DEVELOPERS are awaiting the outcome

of a £10 million plan to transform

a prime town centre site.

Renaissance Retirement wants to

bulldoze Lymington’s former bus station

and redevelop the site by building

a shop and 17 sheltered apartments

for the elderly.

Its initial application was rejected

by New Forest District Council after

being described as “totally uninspiring”

at a planning committee meeting.

Renaissance lodged an appeal but

also submitted a revised scheme that

aimed to overcome the objections.

The second application was also

refused by the council, but the company

also appealed against that decision.

Both proposals include a retail unit

at the front, plus 17 parking spaces

hidden in an underground space accessed

by a car lift.

The bus station closed in 2015, with

operators blaming a reduction in services

caused by bus subsidy cuts and

an increase in fuel duty.

The High Street site is part of the

Lymington Conservation Area and

is also close to several Grade II listed

buildings including Londesborough

House.

The Lymington Society wants any

development to include a “substantial”

retail element.

Campaigner Don Mackenzie said:

“We are determined to stop this unsuitable

and damaging development,

which could set a very dangerous

precedent for the conversion of other

flats to yet more unwanted retirement

flats.”

Both appeals have now been heard

at an inquiry chaired by a government-appointed

planning inspector.

Simon McFarlane, of Renaissance

Retirement, said: “There’s a critical

need for housing, specifically older

people’s housing, in the New Forest.”

The result of the inquiry is expected

to be announced in weeks.