THE latest application to bulldoze a former hotel with links to the creator of Sherlock Holmes has been thrown out after sparking 860 objections.

The New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) has rejected an application to replace the old Lyndhurst Park Hotel with 75 retirement apartments and 15 affordable homes.

Plans by Hampshire-based PegasusLife to build 74 flats and 12 holiday lets on the site were turned down by the NPA in January.

Later it emerged that the original hotel was redesigned in 1912 with the help of legendary author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who lived at nearby Brook and was a frequent visitor to the building.

Now the revised scheme put forward by PegasusLife has also been turned down.

It follows months of controversy over the future of the 59-bedroom hotel, which closed in 2014 with the loss of 20 jobs.

The building is next door to the headquarters of the district council, which said the proposed development was more suited to an urban setting than one of the gateways to the New Forest.

The Victorian Society lodged a formal objection to the proposal, criticising the “total destruction” of a building that was of great historic interest.

The Georgian Group also voiced concern over the proposed demolition of the hotel and the loss of what it described as “hidden architectural elements”.

A report published by the NPA says the new scheme was “not significantly dissimilar” to the application that was rejected earlier this year.

It adds: “Little consideration has been given to integrating the affordable housing element within the scene as a whole. It is shown ‘tucked’ into the north-west corner of the site, away from the main development.

“It demonstrates a very cramped form of development set around a courtyard dominated by parking with little in the way of amenity space.”

The report says the hotel’s direct link to Conan Doyle had increased its heritage value.

It adds: “The submitted heritage assessment has not demonstrated to the satisfaction of the NPA the historic significance of the building and its contribution to the Lyndhurst Conservation Area. In addition, no justification has been submitted to support its complete demolition.”

The campaign to save the hotel has been led by an action group called Friends of Glasshayes House – the building’s original name.

Last night a spokesman said: “We can happily announce that the National Park Authority have refused planning permission to demolish the building. Merry Christmas indeed!”

A PegasusLife spokesman was unavailable for comment. The company could decide to lodge an appeal.