AN East Hampshire district councillor has labelled the dismissal of two applications to build 30 homes in Lark Rise, Liphook, as "brilliant".

Sam James was speaking about the highly controversial Lowsley Farm applications at a Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council meeting on Monday.

"Would the parish council agree that the Lowsley Farm appeal decision is one of the most brilliant in a long time?" he asked.

"It's very good news." The council concurred.

A government inspector had dismissed both appeals in a report issued earlier the same day, on the grounds that the 30 homes would cause "unacceptable harm" to the character of the area, and the living conditions of neighbours.

Michael Hetherington's decision follows a public hearing held at Liphook Village Hall in March.

Fourteen residents' letters were submitted in opposition to the plans.

The reasons for objection included there being too many houses from a single access and additional traffic being created.

Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council had also objected because it felt the development would be too dense for the area, lacked proper access for emergency vehicles, and concerns over drainage.

Both proposals from Swanhill Homes consisted of nine, two-bedroom homes, 11 three-bedroom homes and 10 four-bedroom homes.

The development included access, an estate road, garages, car parking, landscaping, and open space.

One application was a slightly amended version of the other.

Mr Hetherington's report recognised that the majority of homes in Lark Rise are bungalows and therefore much lower than the proposed properties.

The site has been identified as suitable for housing development in the Local Plan, and outline permission for 20 homes was given in 2000.