PLANNING chiefs have rejected proposals to build a new home in the grounds of a century-old building.

The New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) has refused to support an application relating to Tyrrell Lodge in Southampton Road, Lyndhurst.

The applicants had sought consent to build a single-storey, one-bedroom dwelling in the rear garden.

A report to NPA members said: "The site forms part of a small enclave of traditional properties set within spacious plots backing on to open countryside.

"The cramped layout of the site, as proposed, would noticeably contrast with the more spacious rear garden areas to the east and west."

The report said the proposed development would result in a cramped layout and an awkward back-to-front relationship with neighbouring properties as a result of the backland location.

"The very modest size of the proposed dwelling only serves to highlight the very restricted nature of the proposed plot."