A NEW planning application has been submitted to build four homes on the car park of the Greatham Inn following district planners' decision not let a previous application go through with a minor amendment. After a public inquiry two years ago, Comparo Ltd got the go-ahead to build four homes in the car park of what was The Queens (now the Greatham Inn). But East Hampshire District Council's head of planning control Ian Ellis told last week's south planning committee meeting: "In September 2004, attention was drawn to an issue over the size of the respective sites of the Greatham Inn and the adjacent development site for four dwellings. "Following discussions with both parties, an amended plan was submitted with the request that it would be dealt with as a minor amendment to the approved scheme." The amended plan proposed leaving the pub's car park as it is and moving the four homes slightly northwards. Mr Ellis said: "This would require the removal of more of the shrub bank that is at the northern end of the site." This, he told councillors last week, would result in the development extending beyond the settlement policy boundary by around two metres. But he pointed out that the settlement boundary was not clearly defined as the line went through a shrub bank. But Anna James felt the plan could not be dealt with as a minor amendment because it would move the homes further into a bank, which would need major excavation work. Elizabeth Cartwright told fellow councillors she was keen not to jeopardise the future of the pub for which they had worked so hard. Councillors decided that they could not look at the plan as a minor amendment so they then went on to consider the potential new application, which had been added to the agenda at the last minute. The proposal was to keep the car park as it is and extend the site northwards, into the bank. Ian Ellis asked the committee for permission to deal with this application under delegated powers, providing he safeguards the car park and adds conditions regarding the bank. It would also be subject to the views of neighbours and Greatham Parish Council, as normal. Residents and the council will have the standard amount of time to consider the new application and make their comments. The committee agreed in principal to this proposal, so the new planning application looks set to get the go-ahead unless the parish council or residents come up with new planning reasons for objecting. Don Jerrard said at Greatham Parish Council's meeting on Monday: "I am absolutely outraged by the high-handed arrogant behaviour of Ellis and firmly believe that he should have nothing further to do with Greatham planning applications." Chairman Elwyn Evans said: "The decision to permit the development was based on the line and the developer is still not prepared to give up three metres of the car park. "There is no mention about the fact that Inspectorate saw the dotted line and the site was approved by appeal. Even if the property is going to be enlarged, they still aren't giving up the three metres." It was suggested that residents and the parish council could object on the new grounds that the land is outside the settlement policy boundary and also on another point regarding highway matters.