ODIHAM’S Save the Deer Park Action Group is celebrating following the withdrawal of proposals to build on the conservation area between Odiham and North Warnborough.

Known as The Deer Park, the proposal by landowner Richard Revell was to build houses on the historic site. But after more than two years, planning agent Bell Cornwell, of Hook, has this week withdrawn the application.

According to action group team leader Graham Plumbe, for more than two years the developer has sought to build a mansion and executive houses in the historic open space and conservation area known as The Deer Park, Odiham.

Mr Plumbe said: “The grounds put forward were that, together with other so-called improvements, this amounted to a public benefit. Now they blame withdrawal of the planning applications on Historic England, formerly English Heritage, while having sought to override national and local planning policies and the hundreds of local residents who opposed development. This followed formal consultee comments from Historic England to the planning authority, Hart District Council, as well as adverse comments from the council’s own conservation consultant.”

The agent’s notice of withdrawal to Hart’s planners says: “In the light of the change in balance by Historic England, my client wishes to withdraw the applications...”

Mr Plumbe continued: “Quite apart from the very extensive case against this proposal co-ordinated by Save the Deer Park Action Group, well-informed members of the community focused a great deal of research toward providing evidence to Historic England of the significant royal heritage of this historic open space and its setting.”

Mr Plumbe explained how, in June, it was noted that Mr Revell had objected to a far smaller proposed development near his home in Dogmersfield, saying: “This application removes an important open lung in the centre of the village. The view across these open fields has been uninterrupted for over 100 years. Removing this open view will materially and adversely impact the character of the village.”

And Mr Plumbe pointed out: “His proposals for Odiham would spoil a far more important heritage site, ruining a landscape and views that have been uninterrupted for some 900 years.”

But he also warned against complacency. “Save the Deer Park Action Group regards this as winning a battle but not the war. There can be little doubt that an alternative proposal will soon come forward, in one form or another.”