PLANNING chiefs in the New Forest are facing a challenge to one of their decisions.

An appeal has been lodged after the district council rejected an application to build a three-bedroom chalet bungalow on green belt land at Ringwood Road, Sopley.

The council said the proposed development would have an unacceptable impact on the openness of the green belt and would thus fail to safeguard the countryside.

It added: "Information provided by the applicant does not amount to the very special circumstances required in order to justify a departure from green belt policy."

The council also said the scheme failed to comply with policies that required development to be in keeping with the rural character of the area.