ONE of the south's leading developers has kept its promise to save the only historic building in a Waterside parish.

Award-winning Linden Homes has scrapped plans to demolish the old Blackfield Infant School and submitted a revised scheme that spares it.

Linden's change of heart follows a demonstration by scores of placard-waving demonstrators.

The 80-year-old building was originally a golf pavilion constructed by the De Rothschild family, owners of nearby Exbury Gardens.

The land was eventually sold to Hampshire County Council, which replaced the golf course with the infant school.

After the school closed, the land was sold to Linden Homes, which acquired outline planning permission to bulldoze the building and construct homes on the site.

Villagers condemned the scheme, saying it would result in the loss of the only piece of heritage in their community.

Less than 24 hours after residents staged their demonstration, Linden halted demolition work and vowed to save the school.

Now the company has kept its promise and submitted a new planning application that retains the building, which would be converted into three homes.

New Forest District Council is studying the new proposal.