Controversial proposals to replace a disused police station with more than 30 retirement flats have been approved after a two-year planning battle.
Ringwood-based Churchill Retirement Living has finally received planning permission to redevelop the former Hampshire Constabulary site at Southampton Road, Lymington.
The fiercely contested scheme was approved by nine votes to three at a meeting of the district council's planning committee.
Churchill's first application was refused in 2021 after sparking 80 letters of objection and a protest petition signed by 1,400 people.
The company's second proposal was withdrawn just weeks after it was submitted.
A decision on the third application was deferred after Churchill slashed its contribution to off-site social housing from £759,000 to £300,000. But the 32-home development has now been approved amid fears of what might happen if it were rejected.
Cllr Malcolm Wade said: "This authority will have to support this scheme or lose at appeal.
“It is the wrong decision because it is unpopular locally and it is totally against what we should be doing, which is building property for young people."
But council officers said members should accept Churchill's offer of £300,000 towards the cost of social housing, warning that thousands of pounds could be spent arguing the point at a planning inquiry.
Cllr Jack Davies said the people of Lymington had been let down by the authority's "weak" planning policies.
READ MORE: Former Lymington police station demolished ahead of decision on controversial flats plan
In a statement, Churchill said: "After a very long and expensive process, we’re delighted to have secured a successful planning permission that will enable us to invest millions of pounds into Lymington.
"Our new development will generate local economic growth, support local jobs, and increase high street spend.
"It will also help improve the health and wellbeing of those who live there, and meet the housing needs of many older people in Lymington and the surrounding area.
"Enabling older people to downsize will also help to free up homes for younger families in the area to move into, including first-time buyers.
"This is a brownfield site close to the town centre that will provide attractive housing for older people in an area that has one of the highest numbers of over-65s anywhere in the country.
"Councillors have only themselves to blame for the reduced affordable housing contribution, which is mainly due to rising inflation and financing costs.
"If our plans had been approved at the first time of asking this contribution would have been significantly higher."
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