PLANNERS have blocked a proposal that could have ruined a major regeneration scheme in a deprived Waterside parish.

An application that would have prevented Calshot's last shop from re-opening has been thrown out.

Calshot Stores occupies a prime site in the parish, where 200 new homes are due to be built under plans to revitalise the community.

Proposals to convert the building's former retail area into extra living space were refused at a meeting of the district council's planning committee.

A report to councillors criticised the proposed conversion, adding: "The local plan precludes a change of use that would result in the loss of the last convenience shop serving a settlement unless all reasonable efforts have been made to sell or let the property as a shop.

"Calshot Stores has been marketed for nine months without success, but it is felt that the marketing has not been sufficiently sustained.

"Furthermore, the application provides limited evidence to show that the shop would not be economically viable in the future."

Several councillors spoke out in support of the proposed conversion, but Brockenhurst member Maureen Holding backed the officers' recommendation.

She said: "A lot of people living in Calshot are quite low down on the deprivation indices and yet we're saying 'Take away the last shop.'

"It's not open at the moment, but it could be in the future - especially if the area is regenerated."

Plans to breathe new life into the village were unveiled in December last year. The proposals were welcomed by Calshot residents, who have lost their pub and their petrol filling station as well as their local shop.