PLANS to enlarge an internationally-renowned attraction in a Hampshire town have been given the go-ahead.

Civic chiefs have approved the latest application to build a two-storey extension to a motorcycle museum opened by the legendary Sammy Miller in the 1990s.

Miller, who won more than 1,300 motorcycle trials during his career and was British trials champion 11 times, was awarded an MBE in 2009.

An application to extend the museum in Bashley Cross Road, New Milton, was thrown out in June last year.

But a revised scheme was given the nod at a meeting of the district council’s planning committee, even through the complex is situated on greenbelt land. The cost of the proposed extension is still being totted up.

In a letter to the committee New Milton councillor Neil Tungate said: “The museum is internationally renowned and is something in which local residents take pride.

”

Committee members approved the application to demolish part of a single-storey building and replace it with a two-storey complex.

A report to councillors said the museum had revised its plan by reducing the height of the extension and moving it further away from the main buildings.

The report added: “It’s stated the extension will enable the necessary expansion to take place while also significantly improving public access to the collection.

”

The decision to approve the 10,000sqft extension was welcomed by the Motorcycle Museum Trust, which owns the attraction.

A spokesman said: “The trust urgently requires more library, archive and catalogue display facilities. The museum is one of the New Forest major attractions and once the new extension is complete we’ll be able to offer our visitors an enhanced and enriched visit.”