A mature tree will be sacrificed to make way for 62 houses on land west of Beechlands Road in Medstead.

The proposal by Bargate Homes received outline permission from East Hampshire District Council’s planning committee when it met in Petersfield on March 20.

Although the mood in the room among councillors - as well as objectors who spoke before the debate - was against the plans, the committee was hamstrung by planning regulations.

It needed to be able to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land to use its full powers, but with only 2.7 years of housing land available it had to use the ‘tilted balance’ - meaning the application had to be approved unless there were exceptional reasons for rejecting it.

This reluctance to say yes was reflected in the vote. The recommendation to approve it was proposed by Cllr Angela Glass, who said during the debate that the council would probably lose a costly appeal as although the development may not be considered “sustainable” it would be deemed “acceptable”.

Nobody put their hand up to second the motion, so Cllr Anthony Williams was forced to do so as committee chairman. The vote was seven councillors in favour and none against, with one abstention.

Afterwards Cllr Williams said: “Thank you all the public speakers. I know how much this application means but you can see from our deliberations what a difficult position we’re in as a committee.”

Four public speakers objected to the proposal - Frank Maloney, of the Medstead and Four Marks Neighbourhood Plan group, Cllr Phil Quinlan, chair of Medstead Parish Council’s planning committee, Cllr Paul McAllister, of Four Marks Parish Council, and Cllr Roland Richardson, the Four Marks and Medstead ward councillor on East Hampshire District Council. Agent Nick Billington spoke in favour on behalf of Bargate Homes.