A SECOND set of plans for four homes behind Lloyds Bank in Ringwood has been recommended for refusal by members of Ringwood Town Council.

The revised application by Eastcastle Properties Ltd, to build two pairs of semi-detached homes in the car park, has also drawn strong opposition from 13 residents in Kings Arms Lane and Kings Arms Row, despite changes made to the design.

Kings Arms Lane resident Rebecca Street said: “My first objection will be lack of privacy as looking at the plans, on such a narrow road the adjacent property will directly look into mine.

“Light would also be an issue as it will be drastically reduced. Our row of terraced cottages has no allocated parking whatsoever, so we all have to fight for car parking at present, obviously using the current car park, two spaces in Kings Arms Row and the very few spaces in Kings Arms Lane.

“Losing the car park will make residents’ lives intolerable. Town centre parking should be for existing residents.”

The town council’s planning committee discussed the plan at a meeting on Friday, and members said: “Due to issues with the inadequate main sewage pipe in this area, it is not recommended that permission for new housing is given until the problems are resolved and the district council is requested to consult Wessex Water in this case.

“The proposals for the occupants of the new units to reverse into their driveways is not realistic given the fact that the lane is narrow and one-way.

“The proposed houses would appear over-dominant in the street scene due to bulk and size and the car parking remains an issue in an area with minimal roadside parking spaces.”

But planning consultant Jerry Davies says he has been working with planners to iron out issues over the boundary wall – work on which, he says, would not need permission.

He told planners: “The changes are limited to the design and appearance of the dwellings and to the layout of the southerly pair, which are now orientated to face Kings Arms Lane and no longer ‘turn the corner’ into Kings Arms Row.”

He added: “This site contributes nothing to the character and appearance of the area at present and its development as proposed would reinforce the existing street pattern and create visual interest where presently there is a car park.

“The site has long been earmarked for development in successive local plans and the form of development now proposed would make a sensible, measured and valuable contribution to both the supply of homes (on an accessible brownfield site) and to the distinctiveness of the locality.”