Plans to build 71 homes on a Hampshire school field have been rejected by planners.

Linden Homes’ proposals to develop the field at Swanmore College of Technology were turned down by a Winchester council planning committee The school was set to benefit from the development as a new sports field was to be provided on paddock land to the north, subject to county council approval.

The new field would also have been for community use.

Although the council received 43 letters of support for the scheme, several residents objected.

Officers recommended refusing the plans, arguing that the loss of the field was unacceptable and that the replacement was not guaranteed. They also criticised the density, lack of visitor parking and sustainability of the buildings.

Several councillors agreed and urged Linden to go back to the drawing board.

Cllr Therese Evans said: “I just feel there is a better scheme and I think Swanmore deserves better than a very cramped development right on the village edge. I would like to think the developer will go away and think about the reasons for refusal and come back with an acceptable scheme that addresses our concerns.”

In a statement released after the meeting, Linden senior plan manager Mark Carrington said: “Given the nature of these proposals and what they offer to Swanmore, we are disappointed that members took the decision to accord with the views of their officers.

“Having already made amendments to the scheme during the course of the application we will now have to consider potential next steps and the future for this project.”