Decision on cottage demolition plan delayed

The decision on a plan to demolish a cottage that hundreds of people have opposed will not be taken until at least July.

The owner of the building has applied to knock it down and replace it with two new two-storey homes with parking in Swanmore, Hampshire.

Campaigners opposed to the project told Winchester City Council that it dates back to the 16th Century but Historic England experts said it was first built in the mid-19th Century.

An online petition has been signed by about 900 people and another 200 people have submitted objections to the local authority.

A document submitted by a council case officer shows the application will not be decided until at least 18 July.

The grandson of the house's previous owners set up the online petition because he said they sold it believing that it would be lived in by the new owners.

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