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One of Britain's most renowned estates has secured planning permission for a new car park within a protected national park area, despite significant local opposition.

The Beaulieu Estate received the green light for a 46-space facility near its renowned motor museum.

The decision that has sparked outrage among villagers, who have labelled the project a “Trojan Horse”.

Residents of Beaulieu, recently identified as the most expensive village in Britain, fear the approval “sets a precedent” for the estate to pursue further developments close to ancient woodland.

The proposed 46-space car park is situated just metres from an existing 1,000-space car park already owned by the Beaulieu Estate within the New Forest National Park, Hampshire.

Locals fear that the exclusive estate, owned by Lord Montagu, is orchestrating a “developmental creep” in an attempt to “commercialise” the celebrated natural landscape.

open image in gallery The Palace House on the Beaulieu Estate ( Rob Farrow/Wikimedia Commons )

The Montagu family has owned the Beaulieu Estate for over 400 years, while the village itself boasts an average house price exceeding £2 million.

The agricultural land at the centre of the successful planning application is currently used by an education charity to park about 10 cars at a time.

The 9,000-acre Beaulieu Estate will soon put in a gravel surfaced car park to be used as additional parking for events.

A gravel track will also be laid down between an existing track and the new car park.

The car park, currently grassland, is used by the CET (Countryside Education Trust) Treehouses charity, which runs a treehouse study centre and event venue.

Alan Titchmarsh opened the educational treehouse based on Beaulieu Estate land, near the National Motor Museum, in 2008.

At a New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) planning committee meeting, Rachel Pearson, agent for the estate, told members the car park will help the education centre to survive.

She said: “The need for additional parking is real.

“There are no suitable alternatives within the Treehouse site without damaging ancient, natural woodland.

“The proposals will not result in any material intensification of the study centre and its core educational function to offer countryside education to all will remain.”

open image in gallery Ralph Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 4th Baron Montagu of Beaulieu ( Allan Warren/Wikimedia Commons )

Wealthy residents of the New Forest tried to stop the “developmental creep” that they believe the owners of the Estate are implementing.

Beaulieu resident Stephen Rigby branded the application a “Trojan horse”.

The 62-year-old business consultant said: "We'll have to wait and see if they really do only use it for educational purposes – that's fine, but that wasn't our main concern.

"Our main concern was whether it sets a precedent and the potential growth for other applications elsewhere on the field.

"No one has a problem with the charity, it's an exemplary charity."

Mr Rigby said that the limited number of parking spaces are intended for people who are unable to walk the couple hundred of metres up an incline from the National Motor Museum’s 1,000-space car park.

open image in gallery The Motor Museum boasts a 1,000-space car park ( Michael Garlick/Wikimedia Commons )

“Our concern wasn't so much about if it was only used for the treehouses, we're concerned if there's going to be creep, if there's going to be extra weddings, hopefully it will remain at 12 maximum.”

Mr Rigby said that the land the car park is on, Hides Field, has been used for crops and grazing “going back 500 years”.

He believes the estate has a “proven record of developmental creep in the area”, including the introduction of a 4x4 track, a ropes centre and “multiple attempted commercialisation events”.

In response, Ms Pearson said the number of weddings held at the site is limited to 12 per year with a capacity of 100 people, and they are “vital fundraising” for the charitable trust.

During the debate, councillor David Harrison, who sits on the planning committee, said the plans have faced a “high level of scrutiny”.

The Liberal Democrat councillor for Totton South in Hampshire said: “The current parking provisions and accessibility arrangements are unsuitable and can act as a barrier.

“That certainly deals with the issue of if this is necessary. It is supporting the existing use of the study centre.”

Members approved the plans and agreed on including a condition that the car park will return to agricultural land if the educational trust leaves the site.