Lymington: Police station demolished ahead of decision on flats plan

Churchill Retirement Living's latest application to build more than 30 flats at Southampton Road, Lymington, was deferred by New Forest District Council last month.

Members hit out at Churchill's decision to slash its contribution to the provision of off-site social housing from £759,000 to £300,000.

Pennington councillor Jack Davies said the company should be made to justify what he described as an "unacceptable" reduction in the amount being offered.

Lymington police station swrved the local community for 70 years. Officers later transferred to the town hall (Image: Newsquest.)

Council officers had recommended the planning committee to approve the flats scheme.

They said it had addressed previous concerns over possible nitrate pollution - the sole reason why Churchill's appeal against the refusal of an earlier scheme was dismissed.

READ MORE: Proposal to replace former police station with 32 retirement flats rejected by planning inspector

Earlier this year the company received consent to demolish the old police station, which is not listed.

But the Lymington Society is "very disappointed" that the building is already being torn down, even though Churchill's latest proposal to redevelop the site has yet to be determined.

Lymington's former police station is being demolished, even though the latest application to redevelop the site has yet to be determined (Image: Newsquest.)

The chairman, Don Mackenzie, said the former Hampshire Constabulary complex would almost certainly have been added to a local list of non-designated heritage assets.

These were being compiled by local authorities across the country and provided "some protection" for buildings that many people wanted to see retained.

Mr Mackenzie added: "Another important issue is that retaining existing buildings is much more climate-friendly, both from the nitrate pollution point of view and from the release of CO2 during construction of a new building.

"This has become a national issue, with conservationists urging re-use of existing buildings rather than the usual demolition and rebuild."

READ MORE: Former Lymington police station site sold to Churchill Retirement Living

Mr Mackenzie said the Society would have preferred to see the police station retained and made part of a larger scheme to provide much-needed social housing.

He added: "When the application for retirement flats comes back to the committee the Society will again make the case for it to be refused, or at the very least for a sizeable contribution to be made for the creation of affordable homes."

Churchill owns the site and has spent almost three years trying to secure permission to build apartments.

One of its applications sparked almost 80 letters of objection and a protest petition signed by more than 1,400 people.

Churchill did not respond to a request for comment.