DEVELOPERS have defended a controversial application that will be examined at a public inquiry.

Pennyfarthing Homes has lodged an appeal after being refused consent to develop an area of land near the village school at Milford-on-Sea.

The application was rejected by New Forest District Council, which criticised the lack of affordable housing, after sparking more than 200 objections.

Pennyfarthing says 45 per cent of the proposed dwellings would be affordable.

Planning manager Alex Laney said 14 per cent of the affordable element would be shared ownership, 14 per cent would be affordable rent and 17 per cent would be starter homes.

He added: “The provision of starter homes has been accepted on other recent New Forest District Council housing sites and the new National Planning Policy Framework recognises these dwellings as an affordable housing tenure.

“The proposed development also provides significant community benefits, including allotments, a school drop-off/parking and the provision of land for sports pitches.”

Members of the district council had been urged to approve the application but went against the advice of planning officers.

Pennyfarthing, which wants to build 42 properties on a site between Lymington Road and School Lane, lodged an appeal which will be heard at an inquiry.

The site was declassified as green belt land around six years ago, when any potential developers were given the green light to build around 30 homes on condition at least 70 per cent of them were affordable.

Pennyfarthing submitted proposals for 17 detached homes, eight semi-detached properties, 11 terraced homes, six flats, plus play areas, allotments and a cycle path.

But the application was turned down by the council in July.

The council said: “The site was only released from green belt land and allocated for housing on the basis that its development would meet local housing needs which would not otherwise be provided for.

“It would not be appropriate to allow such a limited provision of affordable housing and low cost market housing.”