A PUBLIC inquiry has been ordered into plans to build more than 20 homes on a town centre site in the New Forest.

Land at Grove Road, Lymington – currently occupied by builders’ merchants Travis Perkins – will be replaced by 16 houses and seven flats if the scheme is approved.

Pennyfarthing Homes lodged an appeal after the scheme was rejected by New Forest District Council, which criticised the “inappropriate” scale and design of the proposal.

The appeal will be heard at a public inquiry.