AN appeal is to be held into a refusal by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) planners to grant permission for a replacement dwelling with balcony and detached garage and new access following the demolition of the existing builds at Annaliese, Soldridge Road, Medstead.

EHDC refused the application in February on grounds that the site lies outside the settlement policy boundary and within an area identified as countryside where restrictive planning policies apply.

The proposal was seen to represent “an unacceptable cumulative addition” to the property, which would result in a 276 per cent increase over the original floor area – an enlargement that it was felt would “affect the successful retention of a range of dwellings of varying sizes in an area where new dwellings are not permitted”.

Furthermore, the proposed replacement dwelling, “by virtue of its scale, bulk and mass, would represent an imposing and visually dominant development” which would, it was felt, have “an adverse impact on the character and visual appearance of the rural area” - as too would the siting of the proposed detached garage.

As such, the proposal was considered, by district council planners, to be contrary to local planning policy.

The appeal is to be determined by public hearing. Anyone wishing to make comment or to modify/withdraw a previous representation can do so via the planning portal at acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk or by writing to Judith Birch,The Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/N Kite, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN, quoting reference number APP/M1710/W/17/3177346.

Representations must be received no later than September 8.