A HOUSING scheme that would have raised vital cash for a Waterside church has been thrown out - despite widespread support for the plan.

A Government-appointed planning inspector has rejected proposals to build seven homes on surplus land next to Blackfield Baptist Church in Wilverley Place.

The scheme was discussed at a meeting of New Forest District Council's planning committee in January.

Church secretary Di Lockyer told the committee that the sale of the land would fund a full-time minister and help pay for the maintenance of the building.

Councillors heard that the application had resulted in 14 letters of support and a petition signed by 160 people.

However, they said the houses would be too close to the road, resulting in a cramped form of development that would be visually intrusive.

The church lodged an appeal against the decision, saying that the proposed development was far superior to many of the existing homes in the area.

A document accompanying the appeal attacked "subjective" comments made by the council and urged officials to recognise the "overwhelming" support for the proposal.

However, planning inspector Clive Kirkbride has upheld the council's decision and dismissed the appeal.

His report says: "All the existing houses are set well back from the road on a generally open plan layout and this lends the area a spacious quality.

"The proposed houses would be sited much closer to the road than others in their immediate vicinity. In my view, this would harm the character and appearance of Wilverley Place."

Mr Kirkbride says four of the houses would be too close to the church and church hall, making the scheme appear cramped. A church spokesman said: "We are very disappointed that we have lost the appeal. It's back to the drawing board."