A PLANNING battle in a Hampshire town has ended in victory for the applicant.

An appeal was lodged after New Forest District Council rejected an application to turn a shop in Christchurch Road, Ringwood, into a home.

Now a government-appointed planning inspector has allowed the appeal and approved the proposed development.

The inspector said the shop was on the periphery of the town.

He added; “It does not have a door on to the street frontage and is not part of a continuous run of shops. It is separated from the more active frontage of commercial uses by a number of residential dwellings that line Christchurch Road.

“It’s physical separation has resulted in it ceasing to contribute in any viable way to the town centre retail offer.

“The offering is stronger on the opposite side of Christchurch Road.”