DEVELOPERS have submitted plans to build three luxury homes on land where the owner was fined for illegally felling trees.

Villagers are furious that plans have been lodged for three large houses - worth more than £1m each - on the site, which was designated as an area of special character by New Forest District Council.

The owner of the land at High Forest, Sway, was prosecuted last year for chopping down too many trees at once.

The landowner, who is believed to live in France, was fined about £2,000 last year for breaching felling regulations under the Forestry Act 1967 after the clearance of an estimated 54 trees including 100-year-old Scots pines and mature oaks.

Nearby resident Graham Johnson, of Buldowne Walk, said: "We are going to fight this all the way, because of the history of the site. It's just the cheek of it. We have got to make sure they do not succeed."

Campaigners have been backed by Sway councillor Barry Rickman and Sway Parish Council.

Nobody from developers Southern Heritage Ltd was available for comment.

The New Forest National Park Authority is due to make a decision on the plans by the end of July.