PLANS to transform a prime site in a Hampshire village have been rejected for the second time in four months.

The latest application by Landmark Estates to replace a car showroom with homes and a shop have been thrown out by members of the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA).

An application to build ten properties and a shop on the site in Station Road, Sway, was turned down by the NPA in September.

Now the organisation has refused to support a revised scheme that included nine homes - four houses and five flats.

The latest proposal sparked 32 letters of support from people who said it would create jobs, give shoppers more choice and provide much-needed starter homes for locals.

But objectors said the scheme would create extra traffic problems as well as generating noise and disturbance.

Stephen Tarling, representing Sway Parish Council, stressed that almost everyone in the village was in favour of the site being redeveloped.

But he accused the applicant of trying to squeeze homes and a shop into a space that was only suitable for one or the other.

Fellow objector Stephen Sandys complained that the proposed Co-op store would have only 14 parking spaces, compared with 32 at the similarly-sized Tesco shop in Brockenhurst.

NPA member Pat Wyeth claimed that delivery lorries would cause problems in the village, adding that putting yellow lines in Station Road would amount to "urbanisation".

She added: "The developers are just not listening. They are coming in with applications that do not suit the village."

Philip Holdcroft, planning manager for Landmark Estates, said the proposed houses now had a lower roof height than those in neighbouring Westbeams Road, and the facade of the convenience store had been given a more traditional design.

Planning officer Clare Ings urged members to approve the revised scheme.

She said: "It is considered that the changes between the first application and second are appropriate to address the previous concerns."

But NPA member Barry Rickman, who is also chairman of Sway Parish Council and leader of New Forest District Council, said little had changed.

He recommended refusal and said Landmark Estates should go back to the drawing board.

Other members who voted against the latest scheme included Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, who said: "The developers are trying to do two things rather than focus on one.

"They are frittering away the goodwill that supported this development. They should great care if they come back with another application."