CONTROVERSIAL plans by the William Lacey Group for up to 58 new homes on land at Friars Oak Farm off Boyneswood Road, Medstead, have been rejected.

The proposed development would form a continuation of the 80-home Bellway Homes estate being constructed on the Boyneswood Lodge site, through which access would be gained to the Friars Oak development close to Chawton Park Woods.

Already worn down by years of constant road works, heavy construction traffic, dust and noise, local residents had viewed this latest application as the final straw with objectors in both Medstead and Four Marks urging East Hampshire District Council to give them a break from the impact of non-stop development.

And their voices appear to have been heard as planners have concluded that the greenfield site lies outside the village’s development boundary, where countryside policies of the Medstead and Four Marks Neighbourhood Plan apply.

Planners also felt that the proposal would result in “an intrusion of built form on to an undeveloped greenfield site in a rural area where the objective is to conserve the peaceful rural landscape and maintain the rural character”.

They felt devleopment would “harm the open nature of the land through the loss of this remaining green open space” and would “run contrary to the requirement for development to contribute towards local distinctiveness and protect or enhance the natural open area of the land.”

In addition it was considered that the level of development proposed “would not be consistent with maintaining and enhancing the character of the settlement but instead would place undue pressure on the limited range of local services” in the area. This would be at odds with the spatial strategy for the district which seeks to reinforce a settlement’s role and function.

And, despite the proposed inclusion of 23 affordable homes, this was considered to be an inadequate provision on land outside the Settlement Policy Boundary.

In conclusion the proposal was considered to be contrary to local and national planning policy.