Plans for six new homes on land next to a pub in a village have been approved.
The development will take place on land adjacent to The Malthouse on Stockbridge Road in Timsbury, despite concerns raised over its rural location.
Objections to the plans were raised by both the ward councillor for the area and a parish councillor, who both argued they were unsustainable and not community-led.
Addressing the Southern Area Planning Committee on Tuesday, June 30, Parish councillor Bob Davis said: "The development is in the countryside.
"We have no shop or cycle path.
"There is no walking or cycle path to Romsey.
"The development will not be community or plan-led.
"It is purely speculative."
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Nick Adams-King, ward councillor for Blackwater, also spoke against the scheme.
He said: "Is this the right place for houses? The harms outweigh the benefits."
The committee also heard from Louise Cutts, the agent for the applicant, who asked the committee to approve the plans.
Councillor Alan Dowden raised concerns about the impact on the nearby pub, The Malthouse.
He said: "When I first looked at this development, I saw the pub on the site.
"Pubs are reliant on people visiting them.
"If there are no people, pubs will die."
In June, The Malthouse pub announced it was closing until further notice, blaming rising costs and mounting pressure on the hospitality sector.
Despite the objections, all but one member of the planning committee voted in favour of the scheme.
