PROPOSALS to bulldoze a New Forest church and build a new place of worship on the other side of the road have finally succeeded.

New Forest Council has approved a pair of applications relating to two plots of land opposite each other in Whitefield Road, New Milton.

Councillors supported a revised scheme to build a new church on vacant land between Whitefield Road and the station car park. They also approved a separate proposal to construct 14 homes on the existing church site.

Both applications had been submitted by the Evangelical Free Church of New Milton, which says the present church building is expensive to run and needs major repair work.

Two months ago the council's planning and development control committee rejected an application to build a new church and deferred the flats scheme.

However, both applications were approved at this week's meeting of the committee.

Members supported the church plan after hearing that the applicant had reduced the height and width of the proposed new building. A report to councillors said the new design would result in a "more comfortable" relationship with neighbouring buildings and an acceptable impact on the street scene.

The proposal to build the flats was opposed by representatives from New Milton Bowling Club. They said the three-storey block would have an overpowering effect on the bowling green and would also reduce the amount of sunlight available during evening fixtures.

The flats plan also came under fire from New Milton councillor Ben Earwicker, who described the high-density scheme as urban cramming.