CONTROVERSIAL plans to build four houses off Pyotts Hill have been refused after councillors raised concerns that a nearby monument would be "destroyed".

Dr Hugh Freeman had submitted plans to build four houses in the grounds of Pyotts House, but they were refused last week.

Councillors said that the proposal, a third application to build on the site in the last six years, would "lead to the sub-urbanisation of the site, eroding its rural character" and "result in a harmful impact to the Park Pale/Pyotts Hill entrenchment".

The most recent incarnation of Dr Freeman's plans to build houses on the land was refused by the development control committee in 2019, with councillors citing a lack of smaller properties and no plan to protect Park Pale, an ancient Saxon deer park boundary, described as a "one of its kind in Hampshire".

It led to him resubmitting the plans in April 2020, applying instead for two 2-bedroom, one four-bedroom and one five-bedroom dwelling, and including a management plan to protect Park Pale.

But one councillor said that the monument would be "destroyed" by what was being proposed.

Chairman of the development control committee, Cllr Nick Robinson, said: "It is now going to be in the gardens of some houses. How on earth is anybody going to control what people do in those gardens?

"They're going to mow the lawns, dig flowerbeds, put sheds up. This is going to get destroyed.

"I just don't see any way that this important scheduled monument is going to be preserved or enhanced when it is in the private curtilage of four gardens.

"I can't vote for something that is going to wreck a scheduled monument."

Agreeing with his was fellow committee member Cllr Angie Freeman, who said: "I really don't see that it is adequate protection. We should be seeking ways to protect this better than this current application."

Some of the properties will be less than five metres from the entrenchment, which runs along the western flank of the site.

The planning application had attracted significant criticism from neighbours, with Old Basing and Lychpit Parish Council entering a strong objection.

One neighbour told the committee that the "democratic vote" was 90 against and four in favour.

Tom Lytle told the committee: "You are here to ensure that the right houses are built in the right places.

"Substantial harm will occur to Pyotts Hill, despite a management plan. There will be substantial harm to the Old Basing conservation area and we agree that there is unsustainable access to the development.

"I hope that you consider the 90 versus four when you make the decision tonight."

However, agent Mark Pettitt had also told the meeting that all the concerns the committee raised in 2019 had been met by this application.

He noted no objections were raised by Historic England or Hampshire County Council's archaeology team.

"The site provides a fantastic opportunity to provide much needed housing within the borough at a time when the council cannot demonstrates an adequate supply.

"The current scheme is different to that presented in 2019 and I hope that members appreciate the efforts that have been made to overcome the concerns raised previously."

However, members were not convinced, and after a motion to approve the plans, in line with the recommendation of the council's planning team, failed to garner enough support, councillors supported a refusal of the scheme.