RESIDENTS on a Holbury estate have vowed to continue their battle against a plan to squeeze 15 new properties between their homes.

Developer Foreman Homes has gone back to the drawing board after its initial plans were rejected.

The company submitted the proposal after a small number of homeowners agreed to sell parts of their gardens or properties to build on.

Leading campaigner Gill Sworn, of Renda Road, said: "I am not surprised that they are going to appeal but we are going to object again and again and again and again.

"We are going to take this to the highest government department that we can to make sure that Foreman Homes do not get their way and make a profit out of our loss."

New Forest Council received a petition signed by 35 people protesting against the plans, as well as 18 letters of objection from residents and Fawley Parish Council.

Planning chiefs refused outline planning permission for the mixture of houses and bungalows on several grounds.

They said it would be out of character with the surrounding area and would be detrimental to any future development of nearby land.

They also said that not enough open space, appropriate drainage or provision for affordable homes was included.

Occupants of various homes in Renda Road, Williams Close and Springfield Avenue are outraged that the development would rob them of their privacy.

"We live in lovely surroundings but if this goes ahead we might as well be living in a goldfish bowl," added Mrs Sworn, 44.

Southampton-based Foreman Homes confirmed that it is in the process of lodging an appeal with the district council.

Land director Duncan Hillyer said: "We will be appealing against this and amending the plans accordingly as we do with most applications that are refused.

"It's not fundamental changes that are required, it is technicalities more than anything else. We will work with the planners to try to overcome any issues they may have."

If Foreman Homes's appeal is successful it will then lodge a more detailed application to build on the land, consisting of chunks of two gardens in Renda Road and two in Springfield Avenue.

Another resident in Renda Road has agreed to sell his entire property and garden so that it can be demolished to make way for a new access road.