Controversial plans for a development of up to 155 homes in a New Forest village have been approved despite major concerns over congestion and parking.

Bargate Homes and Vivid Homes saw their hybrid application involving agricultural land in Hordle given the green light by members of New Forest District Council’s planning committee.

The proposal attracted 140 letters of objection and opposition from the parish council and local church.

While one member of the committee said the traffic situation in Hordle Lane would be “total chaos”, councillors found no material planning reason to reject the scheme.

Outline permission was secured for up to 155 homes, public open space, landscaping and infrastructure works on land to the west of Hordle Lane.

Full permission was given for an alternative natural recreational greenspace, public open space and allotments with parking on land to the east of the rural road.

The committee meeting on Wednesday, February 12, heard the current plans featured up to 93 open market dwellings and up to 62 affordable homes.

Representing the applicants, Jamie Hanna, of planning consultants Turley, said the application related to an allocated strategic site which established the principle of development.

“Overall the application complies with all relevant planning policies and will secure the delivery of a site which has been identified for housing,” Mr Hanna said.

Philip Mullins, vicar for the parish of Hordle and Tiptoe, said his main concern related to congestion and safety in Hordle Lane during construction and upon completion of the development.

“It’s my view that the ongoing reality of people who have to walk in the lane to get to church and school in conflict with vehicular traffic generated by the development will represent an unacceptable impact on highway safety,” Mr Mullins said.

Hordle parish councillor Carol Rook said while they accepted the site would be developed, they had concerns about the current proposals, particularly the proposed build out in Hordle Lane.

“This lane is used by people coming to the school and church,” Cllr Rook said.

“This plan will make the road impassable and displace the parking issues to other areas in the immediate vicinity, including the roads in the new development.”

Nick Gammer, Hampshire County Council transport engineer, said their assessment of the application had been “quite thorough” and they did not believe there would be any “severe” impact on the highway network.

The developers will make infrastructure contributions of £1.6million.

Cllr David Hawkins said there had been a lot of “dead ears” to the “tremendous traffic problems” around the church and school.

He said the scheme would cause “total chaos”, even comparing it to congestion in London.

Cllr Malcolm Wade said high car usage was due to the New Forest not having any decent public transport.

“I totally understand the issues raised by the parish council and we really do feel sympathetic because you rightly are protecting your area and you are looking at all of the things that will make it worse,” Cllr Wade said.

“The way forward in this is to try and work with the developer to mitigate the problems and to get proper solutions that fit in with the community because we have to build the houses and there is no planning reason why we can’t pass it.”

The applicants will need to submit a reserved matters application with details on the residential element of the scheme before any homes can begin.