RESIDENTS have expressed their "extreme disappointment" at plans for retirement flats on land which was originally earmarked for a pub.

The proposal, submitted to Test Valley Borough Council, is to introduce 15 two bedroom flats, 21 one bedroom flats, with facilities such as a residents lounge, a mobility scooter store, refuse store, office and a guest suite in Abbotswood.

As well as a total of 25 car parking spaces.

Now, residents have vented their disappointment at the plans as it was land which was earmarked for a pub or community building.

One Abbotswood resident, Lynne Askey, said she objects the plans.

She said: "McCarthy and Stone held a consultation event in August.

"Only 57 people attended.

"According to their data, a mere 43 people ticked the box to indicate they locally ‘welcomed the provision of specialist housing’, which I assume means that 14 people expressed the opposite view.

"According to McCarthy and Stone’s data, 23 people did not agree that retirement homes represented a good use of the site."

She added: "As you are aware, the site was originally planned for a pub and GP surgery, which no-one would argue are anything but for the whole community.

"A three-story block will dominate the area, as can be seen from the outline sketches."

Daily Echo:

Another Abbotswood resident, Simon Hayes, also said he feels "badly let down" after plans were revealed.

He said: "This is not what the original Abbotswood development advertised, or for which planning permission was granted.

"Living on the estate was sold to us as having community facilities such as a Doctors surgery, pub and shops.

"The area subject to McCarthy and Stone’s application is quite clearly in the zone marked for a ‘local community retail centre’; clearly retirement homes are not retail.

"If the land is not currently of interest as retail development it should remain as a green space until such time as it is."

"Many residents of Romsey were opposed to development at Abbotswood because it would increase the traffic in the town centre.

"Retail units instead of retirement homes on this site at Abbotswood would go some way to alleviating these concerns, reduce the carbon footprint and help cement a community at Abbotswood."

He added: "Communications are poor and there’s a general feeling of having been abandoned."

Daily Echo:

Shane Paull, Regional Managing Director at McCarthy and Stone, said: “Our plans will regenerate a longstanding, vacant site, which is sustainably located, close to shops and services at Abbotswood, by delivering much-needed specialist Retirement Living accommodation for older residents.

“Our high-quality, traditional design will significantly enhance the appearance of this vacant site and positively contribute to the local street scene.

"We strongly believe that our proposal will be an asset to Romsey and that it represents an important opportunity to significantly improve housing choice for older residents, while also contributing to wider housing needs, as local older residents move to more suitable accommodation, releasing under-occupied homes back into the housing chain."