CONSULTATIONS are set to be held on controversial plans to redevelop a Hythe car park into a 35-flat retirement home and Lidl supermarket. 

Residents are being urged to have their say on the potential scheme for the St John’s Street Car Park, on the corner of South Street and St John’s Street, before it is too late.

A consultation for the retirement home, which has been proposed by Churchill Retirement Living for the former PC Builder site, will be held in the Hythe and Dibden Parish Council Chamber, at The Grove, on Tuesday between 4pm and 7pm. 

Councillors will then go through the views voiced by the community the following day at a special planning committee meeting being held at 5pm.

Lidl, which has proposed to build a store on the neighbouring car park, will then hold as second consultation event on February 7 in the parish council’s chamber from 10am to 3pm and between 4pm and 7pm.

The authority will then hold an extraordinary meeting at the parish hall, in West Street, on February 16 from 6.45pm. 

The public have been invited to all the events where they can ask questions about the development. 

Councillor Maureen McLean said the main issues raised was with the retirement home’s lack of car parking spaces which worked out at one space per three flats and the fact the development was right on a corner.

She added: “I think it is extremely important to have your say because, while I am not trying to presume anything, quite a few people in Hythe are a little bit annoyed that once again a retirement home has been proposed in the town because there does not seem to be anything around like starter homes for younger people.”

To view the proposed scheme visit www.newforest.gov.uk and use the planning application number 16/11639.