HOUSE prices in the Dibden Bay area are set to soar following the rejection of plans for the super-port.

ABP's application to build a massive container terminal between Hythe and Marchwood sparked a property price freeze in the area.

Now householders are set to cash in on the government's decision to refuse the scheme.

Paul Dettmer, of Paul Jeffreys estate agents in Hythe, said: "The owners of properties that would have provided a buffer between Dibden Bay and other residential areas can breathe a big sigh of relief.

"As far back as five or six years ago we found that people were reluctant to buy in some areas such as Southampton Road in Hythe which backs on to farmland next to the site of the proposed development.

"I think that anyone selling a property in the area is going to be relieved."

A spokesman at Waterside Properties in Hythe said: "Property prices were fairly buoyant all the time the public inquiry into Dibden Bay was going on due to the continual demand for and unique nature of the marina village.

"And now that the scheme has been rejected it can only have a positive effect on property prices in this area.

"People thinking of selling will now have a much more positive outlook, and those thinking of buying will have had any doubt about the future of the area removed. We can only see a positive outcome to this important decision."

Marchwood parish councillor Alan Shotter said house prices in the area would have frozen if the scheme had been approved.

He said: "The port would have taken eight or nine years to build and, once open, would have been operational 24 hours a day.

"Approval for the scheme would have had a detrimental effect on house prices because of the disruption.

"That effect would have spread along the A326 once the port was up and

running because of all the extra traffic on the road.

"Now the scheme has been rejected I expect house prices to rise in line with the rest of central southern England.

"That's excellent news for people selling their homes but not such good news for buyers, who might find that prices are higher than anticipated."

Hythe and Dibden parish councillor George Dawson said: "There was doubt in peoples' minds about the future of the area. Providing ABP do not come up with further plans to develop the area, confidence will strengthen and prices will rise."

Karien Read, manager at Pearsons estate agents in Hythe said: "It can only be good news. Properties which would have backed on to the railway or the land itself would have become less attractive."

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