PLANS to list a former gym and dairy building which is set for demolition have been refused.

Earlier this year, proposals were announced to transform the former Samson’s Gym and Co-op Dairy building in Chamberlayne Road, Eastleigh.

A notice of demolition was put out for the building by Eastleigh Borough Council last year but in December, an application was made to Historic England to list the site.

Now though, this application has been refused, with Historic England saying that the site does not meet the criteria of “special architectural or historic interest” required for statutory listing.

The final decision, made in conjunction with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, was announced on September 1, leaving campaigners “disappointed” after they argued that the building was worthy of preservation.

Bob Everett, spokesman for the Gym Improvement Group, a group of residents created in response to the site plans, said: “We are disappointed, obviously, but the decision has not come as a total surprise.”

The building started as a dairy and shop in 1930 and later ceased to be Samson’s Gym in 2018 following a kidnapping scandal involving its owner at the time.

In March the council announced it would be holding webinars on a possible new development on the site which it called “The Parlour”.

Historic England added in its judgement notes: “Local listing of this asset may be appropriate, though this of course will always be a matter for the local authority to determine.”

Eastleigh Labour campaigner Sam Jordan, who was in contact with residents when the demolition was first announced said: “it’s very disappointing.

“It might not have national historic value but it has significant local historic value.”