CONTENTIOUS plans to build 42 homes on the edge of Milford-on-Sea are being recommended for approval.

The proposal to develop the land north of School Lane has attracted widespread opposition from residents with more than 200 objections raised.

New Forest District Council is set to decide on Pennyfarthing Homes’ scheme on Wednesday and are being recommended to grant permission.

The land had been designated as green belt until a decision was made in 2013 to deselect it in order to build 30 affordable homes in the village and is also designated in the district council’s local plan.

However, revised plans submitted to the council only include provision for seven ‘starter homes’ six shared ownership houses and six affordable flats, a move which has drawn the ire of the parish council and residents.

Objecting to the proposal, Milford-on-Sea Parish Council said: “The village has pressed for the building of affordable homes for local people and agreed that, in accordance with the local plan, this green belt land should be used to provide these much-needed homes.

“The planning inspector ratified this development and ruled that no more than 30 houses could be built on the site.

“These starter homes will not be an option for either the local families on the housing register who are in desperate need of rented accommodation in Milford or for the other families or young people seeking to join the housing ladder.

“Indeed, the district council’s own strategic housing officer has pointed out that a family would have to earn around £42,000 a year to be able to buy one of these houses.

“We object most strongly to the assertion that this provision can form part of the affordable obligation.”

Milford-on-Sea Primary School, which neighbours the proposed site, is also opposed to the development due to concerns about the distance of a planned drop-off zone from the school.

Despite the application receiving 201 objections and only one comment in support and exceeding the local plan’s limit for the site, planners say that “sufficient justification is considered to have now been demonstrated to allow for an exception to policy to be made in this instance”.

A decision will be made at Wednesday’s meeting of the district council’s planning committee.