PLANS to build up to 300 homes in North Baddesley have been unanimously refused.

Applicants the Ashfield Partnership had applied to Test Valley Borough Council to build the homes on Hoe Lane, and a previous meeting earlier this year had seen the plans deferred.

Now, after going back to planning bosses on Tuesday evening, the plans were unanimously refused due to the affects it would have on the traffic both on the A3057, and in North Baddesley and the surrounding roads.

During a hotly debated meeting, councillors were keen to stress the impact of both building the development, and the addition of "700 more cars" to the area.

Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams councillor, Phil Bundy, asked the agent representing The Ashfield Partnership how many other applications he had seen approved with this number of houses on a development leading to a single-track road.

Despite answering "none that I could think of", the applicant said it had done all it could to address the concerns of members.

Although it has been refused, the plans have been passed on to the planning control committee with Test Valley Borough Council fearing if an appeal was to be lodged, costs could be awarded against the authority.

As previously reported, councillors had expressed their worry about the road not being suitable for that number of cars, as well as the junction with the A3057 being too dangerous.

North Baddesley councillor Stephen Cosier, said: "You keep saying that there are going to be nine passing places, or official ones, but what are you going to do about the unofficial ones? You cannot rely on drivers not to keep using them and edging away at the side of the road. I don't feel the problems have been addressed and I urge members to refuse this application."

Before the plans were debated earlier this year, 38 residents had written in to object to the application. The county highways department said that £50,000 would be invested to put flashing signs in place to make drivers aware of the A3057 junction, and reduce the Hoe Lane speed limit from 60 miles per hour down to 30mph.

Despite those promises, members of the southern area planning committee didn't agree it would be suitable.

Speaking after the refusal, North Baddesley councillor Celia Dowden said: "We are pleased that this has been refused, and unanimously too for the second time.

"It was ultimately refused because the A3057 and Hoe Lane junction are insufficient and would create a danger, in that two-way traffic would not.

"Improvements to the local highway network including the ability to accommodate increased traffic on Hoe Lane between Rownhams Lane and the A3057 will need to be provided."