THE fight against a housing development near Winchester appears to be over.

At a planning committee on Thursday (June 13), members of the South Downs National Park Authority gave the green light for the application in Droxford.

Developers Kebbell plan ten new homes for the village, which has sparked anger among residents.

Meon Valley MP, George Hollingbery, has said he is not against the principle of development there, but feels the scale and location “do not seem very sensitive.”

The news follows an administrative error in May by Winchester City Council which saw furious villagers hold a meeting with Mr Hollingbery after a notice mistakenly appeared on the SDNPA website saying permission had already been granted.

A city council spokesman said they took responsibility and removed the notice as soon as they realised their mistake.

There have been five applications in all, dating back to 2009, with the SDNPA initially opposing the plans, and later retracting their objection.

A total of 53 letters of objection and a petition have been sent to Winchester City Council, which has been acting as an agent for the SDNPA.

Campaigners say they are considering their next move but are unlikely to mount a legal challenge due to the cost.