Plans to replace 'beautiful old' Lymington cottage with three terraced homes

PLANS to demolish a Victorian former posting cottage in Lymington to make way for three terraced houses have been criticised for destroying “another historic part of the town”.

The two-storey cottage is attached to the Borough Arms pub in Lower Buckland Road, and is believed to have been built around 1850.

A planning application to New Forest District Council by Lymington-based Steadman Lloyd Construction said it was in a “poor condition” with a basement prone to flooding.

But local civic group the Lymington Society argued that the replacement was “highly unsuitable” and lamented the loss of a “historic” building, despite accepting that it could not be saved.

Society spokesman Don Mackenzie told the A&T: “The Lymington society strongly object to this development of three houses.

“We consider the proposal is totally out of keeping with the area and would be an over-development of the site.”

In an objection to NFDC, the society said the new buildings should “reflect the scale and mass of the building being demolished and the architecture of the adjacent public house and not the modern houses opposite”.

Only two houses should be allowed to be built on the site, it said, and should look to the architecture of the Borough Arms.

It added: “It is a great shame that it was not included on a list of protected buildings when listing started in the 1970s.”

The developer’s submission said the three “townhouse style” properties will provide “affordable housing in a sustainable, town centre location”.

The homes will be influenced by design “taken from the style and density of the houses permitted immediately opposite the site at Lyric Place”.

However, nearby residents have also criticised the new proposal, with one of the four objectors saying: “The building is a beautiful old cottage that adds character to the end of the street.

“I’d like to see the building restored; pebble dash removed versus demolition. This shouldn’t be knocked down.”

A planning officer for NFDC has said that although the cottage is not within a conservation area and not listed, there is evidence it has “historic origins.”

They are recommending further investigation into the cottage’s “local historical and architectural interest” to determine whether it is a non-designated heritage asset, and as such could be saved.

The owners of the Borough Arms, which shares a wall with the cottage, say they have no problems in principle with the proposed work.

NFDC is scheduled to make a decision by 10th September after the deadline for comments on 21st August.

*A previous version of this story featured the wrong photo. We apologise for the error.