Relaunch of retirement flats bid for ex-Lymington police station could dash hopes of affordable housing alternative

A CONTROVERSIAL bid to transform the former Lymington police station into 32 retirement flats is set to be relaunched.

Churchill Retirement Living confirmed it intends to resubmit its application for the Southampton Road site “in the next few weeks”, less than three weeks after pulling its last proposal.

As reported in the A&T, the developer had declined to comment on the withdrawal.

But now chairman and CEO Spencer McCarthy has revealed it was “due to ongoing discussions with the police authority over the land purchase contract” amid “increased economic uncertainty”.

He explained that high inflation and increased interest rates impacted the site’s viability but added “we are now progressing the completion of our purchase of the site”.

“Having already invested hundreds of thousands of pounds into planning applications, design costs, appeal costs, planning reports and more, we are committed to making these plans a success,” Mr McCarthy said.

This could dash recent hopes among campaigners, including civic group the Lymington Society, of an affordable housing alternative.

New Forest District Council cabinet member for housing and homelessness, Cllr Edward Heron, recently wrote to Hampshire police and crime commissioner Donna Jones expressing continued interest in purchasing the land for such use.

Mrs Jones remained tight-lipped on the matter, but confirmed a deal had been agreed with a purchaser.

Churchill’s retirement flats bid stretches back to July 2021’s first application, dismissed at appeal solely over a perceived failure to mitigate nitrate pollution concerns.

Original objections were not supported, including claims it would add too many homes for older people and hike pressure on local services.

Churchill’s second application in December included mitigation measures.

Lymington Society chairman Don Mackenzie previously branded the buying up of agricultural land to offset a development’s nitrate discharge “a national scandal”.

Disappointed the application will be resubmitted, he urged NFDC to continue efforts to secure the site to address a “chronic shortage” of affordable accommodation.

Mr Mackenzie believed Churchill was trying to negotiate a lower price for the site with the PCC due to the changing housing market. He hoped this still gave NFDC a chance to step in.

“With the NFDC election coming up soon, buying the site for affordable homes would be a popular move,” he said.

“We urge the councillors involved to bite the bullet and match whatever Churchill are offering to secure this site to house local people and prevent more unwanted retirement flats adding to the many unsold ones currently available in the town.”

Stressing his lifelong connection to Lymington, Mr McCarthy maintained he would not invest millions into retirement flats if they were not needed.

“Whilst I do, of course, recognise that Lymington needs new housing for people of all ages, I believe that ensuring appropriate, good quality housing choices for local older people is an essential part of the solution,” he said.

“Retirement housing is the most effective form of residential development for generating local economic growth, creating local jobs, increasing high street spend and, most importantly, boosting the housing market by enabling downsizers to free up under-occupied properties for families, younger people, first-time buyers and key workers.”

Mr McCarthy quoted figures showing Lymington has the fourth highest percentage of over-65s in the country, with those aged 75 and over expected to rise 65% by 2030.

He concluded: “Most people will want to remain in the town and to live somewhere that helps them maintain their independence as they get older.

“New retirement housing on the police station site can help enable this.”