CAMPAIGNERS have lost their battle to halt the construction of 42 homes being built on green belt land in the New Forest.

The government has rejected a call by Sir Desmond Swayne, Tory MP for New Forest West, to revoke consent for the controversial scheme.

Sir Desmond claimed the applicant, Pennyfarthing Homes, should have included a larger number of affordable homes.

But housing minister Robert Jenkins said he could cancel planning permissions only in “exceptional circumstances”. He also pointed out that such decisions could cost taxpayers a large sum in compensation.

Sir Desmond said he was “disappointed” with the reply, adding: “The decision should have been made much more swiftly, before development really got underway.”

The homes are being built on former farmland near Milford Primary School.

An action group called School Lane and Manor Road (SLAM) was formed to fight the proposal. TV wildlife expert Chris Packham, who lives in the Forest, also spoke out against the scheme, which sparked more than 200 objections.

The application was rejected in 2018 after members of New Forest District Council went against the advice of the authority’s planning officers.

But the decision was overturned last year following a public inquiry which was held after Pennyfarthing lodged an appeal.

Planning inspector Alex Hutson, who chaired the hearing, said the council’s “unreasonable behaviour” had delayed a development it should have approved.

Ben Arnold, Pennyfarthing’s land and planning manager, stressed that 19 of the new properties would be affordable homes.

Referring to the time taken to secure consent for the scheme he added: “It is unfortunate these delays have resulted in unnecessary costs and lost time. While we appreciate that all parties should have a voice, a lot of the rhetoric surrounding this application has been misinformed and inflammatory.

“However, we hope this result has shown the proposal will maximize affordable housing and community benefits.”

In his letter to Sir Desmond, Mr Jenkins said the inspector was satisfied the scheme would provide an acceptable level of affordable housing. He also said the government did not feel it would be “expedient” to revoke permission.

In a statement SLAM said the decision set a worrying precedent for the use of green belt land.

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