SOUTHERN Water has scrapped a controversial plan to build a £600m desalination plant on the edge of the New Forest.

Earlier this year the company sparked fury by unveiling proposals to construct a facility capable of converting 75 million litres of seawater a day into drinking water.

Campaigners included people living near the proposed site at Ashlett Creek, near Fawley.

The environmental impact of the scheme was condemned in a report signed off by the leader of New Forest District Council, Cllr Edward Heron.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust also opposed the scheme, claiming it posed "significant risks" to species and habitats in protected areas.

In a letter to Southern Water it said: "The Solent is already stressed and the unfavourable condition of its protected habitats such as sea grass has been attributed, in great part, to the impacts of poor water quality.

"The operation of a desalination facility abstracting and discharging into the Solent will do nothing to improve water quality and is highly likely to reduce it further."

People living in the Fawley area launched an online petition that was signed by more than 1,700 people.

In a statement Southern Water said water recycling and water transfers were now seen as preferable to desalination.

It added: "Consequently, we have written to our regulators informing them that we’re continuing to explore our proposals for water recycling and water transfer solutions and do not intend to further develop plans for desalination."

Objectors to the desalination plan included Julian Lewis, Tory MP for New Forest East.

He said: "Southern Water's decision to drop its plans for a desalination plant at Fawley shows it has listened to the views of the local community and its environmental regulators.

"The company has clearly taken a robust and detailed approach to developing its plans and as a result appears to be selecting the best outcome for customers and the environment."

Richard Young is the former chairman of Marchwood Parish Council.

Posting on social media he said: "Southern Water have disclosed that they will thankfully not progress their potential plans to build a desalination plant, which would have involved digging up and installing a large pipeline route through the entire Waterside area.

"My sincere thanks to all those who campaigned constructively against this proposal, and who conveyed their concerns through the public consultation.

"Particular thanks to Dr Lewis and Cllr Alexis McEvoy for their robust public rebuttal of what would have likely been a highly damaging blot on the local environment."