REJECTED proposals to build another new housing estate in New Milton are to go before a government planning inspector for a second opinion.

New Forest district councillors have been branded "unreasonable" after overturning expert recommendations to approve plans for 38 new homes at the Meadows Caravan Site in Southern Lane.

The council's development control committee threw out the scheme in July, deciding it represented over-development and failed to provide sufficient public open space for the intended residents.

Members also believed the plan offered no adequate on-site drainage in the event of flooding, and that the layout of parking on the land would lead to people leaving their vehicles on surrounding streets and verges, spoiling the character of the area.

But developers Wilson Connolly Southern insist they did everything possible to address such concerns, liasing with planners for several months and even staging a public meeting on the issue.

They argue the scale and style of the estate's design falls well within government advice, providing a good balance of private and low-cost, "affordable" properties.

In addition, they refer to planners' own statement that New Milton has a "significant surplus" of informal open space, and that highways engineers had raised no objection to the car parking provision and access arrangements.

Similarly, the Environment Agency was happy with the plans for an open water course to handle site drainage.

The case will now go to appeal later this year.

A spokesman for the applicants said: "Given the nature of the planning officer's report recommending approval, the reasons for refusing consent cannot be substantiated and thus the decision is unreasonable in all the circumstances."