A SCHEME to knock down and rebuild the west wing of a large country house near Stockbridge has been given the go-ahead by Test Valley councillors.

They unanimously approved the proposals submitted by Nigel Wolstenholme at Hoplands House in King’s Somborne.

His approved plans include building a replacement west wing and enlarging the residential curtilage to incorporate the site of the old wine store at the property, which is to the south-east of the village and close to the old Roman road that linked Winchester with Salisbury.

Acknowledging that the proposed extension was a “significant size”, planning officer Paul Goodman told members of the southern area planning committee: “The building is not considered to represent overdevelopment of the site.”