TWO shepherd huts will be used as holiday lets in the Test Valley. 

Jenny Govan's retrospective application was for the use of five huts in total at Hilltop Farm in Newtown Road, Newtown. 

Two are for holiday accommodation and the other three are for a kitchen, lounge and bathroom. 

Test Valley Borough Council's southern area planning committee approved the scheme on June 11.

As well as getting 29 supporting comments from members of the public, it was also backed by the Romsey and District Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber of commerce said: “Test Valley Borough Council has always promoted tourism due to the outstanding countryside through the Test Valley and additional visitor accommodation in this area is desperately needed.

“We are aware that the application site formally made-up part of the Dunwood Manor Golf and Country Club. One of our elected members has visited the location and his findings are that the shepherd huts were beautifully presented and blended into a natural environment, there was nothing industrial or unsightly, nor did it overlook neighbouring properties.”

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Two shepherd huts will be used as holiday lets (Image: TVBC)

Amelia Dawass, of Walnut Close, Braishfield, said: “I am wholeheartedly in support of this type of modest, discreet tourism. It aligns perfectly with Test Valley's policy for fostering diverse, small-scale rural tourism. Not only does this bring in revenue for Romsey, but it also benefits the surrounding areas.”

A total of 11 objections were also received. Hayley Moody, of Newtown Road, said: “As we have previously commented and Natural England has recently made sensible points about how all this will be managed if permission is granted. At present it is all suggested that they will only be used 6 months of a year and only one person per shepherds hut how will this be policed? I appreciate the owner may in their time do this but the permission goes with the land not the owner so could be open to future issues and problems for the adjoining homeowners.”

The use of the huts will be limited to six months per calendar year, from the start of April until end of September. 

The planning officers' report said: “The application is recommended for permission subject to the completion of a legal agreement securing mitigation measures to avoid adverse harm to internationally designed ecology sites.

“In the event a legal agreement securing the required mitigation measures is not completed within three months, then a second recommendation for refusal has been added to ensure the consideration of the application is not unduly prolonged.”