A couple have lost their battle to retain a 1.5m high boundary fence that was built without planning permission.

They lodged an appeal after New Forest District Council rejected a retrospective application to install the fence, but a government-appointed planning inspector as upheld the authority's decision.

The site is in Lockerley Close, Lymington.

The inspector's report said: "The fence is stark addition to the street scene and erodes the uniformity and verdant nature of the boundary treatments along surrounding roads. The incongruous nature of the fence is exacerbated by it being erected on top of a stone wall."

The report said the applicants felt the previous arrangement was unsatisfactory and an immediate solution was needed. 

But it added: "It has not been demonstrated that modifications to this arrangement, or alternative solutions more in keeping with the prevailing character and appearance of the area, could not achieve the scheme’s purported aim of providing security and privacy.

"The development has had an unacceptable effect on the character and appearance of the area."

The application to retain the fence was refused by the district council in April 2024. It had been opposed by Lymington and Pennington Town Council and four members of the public.