A NEW battle in looming over controversial plans to build 40 homes on the edge of a New Forest village.

Fenchurch Residential Limited has lodged an appeal after the district council rejected its latest application to redevelop a former artificial insemination unit at Beechen Lane, Lyndhurst.

The fiercely contested scheme was thrown out at last month's meeting of the council's planning and development control committee.

Members said the homes would have an unacceptable impact on a sensitive rural site that formed part of the New Forest Heritage Area.

They also complained that the decision to include just 14 affordable homes meant the development would only partly meet the need for social housing.

The rejection of the application was greeted with jubilation by residents sitting in the public gallery.

People living in Beechen Lane and nearby Hilary Close were delighted to have scored another victory in their three-year battle to prevent Fenchurch building homes on the land.

Fenchurch has appealed against the decision, claiming the council was "unduly influenced" by the views expressed by objectors.

A statement accompanying the appeal says the land is a brownfield site that is occupied by large buildings and is close to existing houses.

"The site is just outside the boundary of Lyndhurst, but is effectively part of the built-up area," adds the statement.

"Our proposal constitutes only a minor departure from the Local Plan and the circumstances justify consent being granted."

The statement says it would not be viable to use the whole of the site for affordable housing.

It adds: "The improvements to the junction of Beechen Lane and the A337 would have very considerable road safety benefits."

The statement warns that a commercial use of the land would be far more damaging to its rural character than housing.