Churchill Retirement Living launches third flats bid for former Lymington police station site

A DEVELOPER has launched a fresh plan to replace the former Lymington police station with retirement flats.

Churchill Retirement Living’s third application to New Forest District Council has gone in just weeks after it bought the Southampton Road site from Hampshire police and crime commissioner Donna Jones.

As reported in the A&T, campaigners have strongly objected to Churchill’s proposal since the first two years ago.

By yesterday (Wednesday), 14 objections had been lodged with NFDC against the latest bid.

Arguments included Lymington needing more affordable housing rather than retirement accommodation.

Churchill has included mitigation measures to address nitrate pollution concerns which were the sole reason for the first application’s dismissal at appeal.

The planning inspector did not uphold original objections, including claims it would add too many homes for older people and hike pressure on local services.

A second application was submitted last December but withdrawn weeks later.

However, hopes among objectors that the site might host affordable homes were dashed when its sale was secured in February.

Twenty-one one-bedroom apartments and 11 two-bedroom apartments are proposed, with communal facilities, access, car parking and landscaping.

Regarding the nutrient mitigation, the application said: “The land secured is at a Natural England-approved scheme based at Kings Manor in the Isle of Wight.”

It also blamed rising costs for the scheme no longer contributing towards affordable housing provision.

Lymington and Pennington Town Council is expected to continue opposing Churchill’s plan.

Town clerk Louise Young said: “The council view it as an opportunity for affordable housing needed for the younger generation.

“The town council resolved to write to the Hampshire police commissioner insisting that a substantial proportion of the proceeds from the sale of the site are diverted to Lymington for affordable housing.

“Although her response has not been encouraging, we are continuing to pursue this avenue.”

One resident’s objection to the latest application said it would be “widely irresponsible to allow another retirement development”.

More than 1,400 people previously signed a New Forest West Labour Party petition against the flats.

Churchill said in its plans: “The scheme has been designed to reflect the character and scale of the surrounding area and whilst at the same time seeking to make the most efficient use of this sustainable site.

“The provision of retirement housing releases under occupied family homes back in to the housing market. This in turn enables moves throughout the whole housing market, benefiting everyone including first-time buyers.”

The public consultation period ends on 21st April, and NFDC is due to make a decision by 16th June.