PLANNING chiefs are studying updated proposals to build more than 60 homes on a greenfield site in the New Forest National Park.

Vivid Homes has submitted an application to redevelop a 2.7-hectare site off Whartons Lane in Ashurst - one of the biggest villages in the district.

Vivid's initial proposal was submitted earlier this year but the National Park Authority (NPA) has now received amended plans.

A statement accompanying the documents says: "Following comments received during the statutory consultation period, and discussions with NPA officers, the original scheme was amended in response.

"The principal changes were to create a village-green style public open space, providing a social hub with a play area at the heart of the development.

"Whilst there was some support for the revised scheme a number of concerns were raised."

The statement says some critics complained that the comprised too many houses and too few visitor sparking spaces. Others said the proposed development should include bungalows and more spacious houses with longer gardens.

The site comprises four fields that are used for grazing.

A design and access statement that forms part of the application says the 62-home development will comprise a mixture of open market and affordable properties, an open space for residents and the wider community and a network of paths linked to the existing settlement.

But Ashurst residents are continuing to send letters of objection to the NPA.

One of the most recent describes the scheme as an "urban estate" not in keeping with the village. She adds: "No other estate has such a level of housing crammed into one area."

Another protester says: "The proposed estate is poorly designed and inappropriate to the village of Ashurst.

"It is a great disappointment for all of us and it is sad that the developer has so little respect for the surroundings."

The amended plans are advertised in a public notice published by the NPA.

Other public notices:

Southampton City Council is closing Archers Road between its junctions with Hill Lane and Northlands Road from December 17 (8am-6pm) for drainage repair works. The works are due to be completed by December 19.

Southampton City Council is closing Northam Road from its junction with St Marys Street to 30 metres of the junction from December 16 (8pm-6am) for manhole repairs. The works are due to be completed by December 18.

Grzegorz Mieczys Ciupka, trading as GC Transport Southern Ltd, of 24 Radcliffe Road, Southampton, is applying for permission to add an operating centre to keep four goods vehicles and four trailers at Unit 1-3, 188-194 Empress Road, Southampton.

C S Utility Contractors Ltd, of Ashey Road, Ryde, is applying for permission to keep an extra 2 two goods vehicles at the operating centre at C Morgan and Sons Ltd, Solomons Lane, Waltham Chase.

Mark Claughton, trading as M Claughton Transport, of North Way, Gosport, is applying for permission to add an operating centre to keep two goods vehicles and two trailers at Daedalus, Broom Way, Lee on Solent.