PEOPLE have four weeks to comment on a plan to turn New Forest District Council’s former offices in Ringwood into a retail and housing development.

Currentasset Ltd has applied to demolish the three-storey building in Christchurch Road and build a ground floor retail unit and eight flats.

Three new homes are proposed at the rear of the site, which backs on to Woodstock Lane. The scheme will provide for 23 car parking spaces.

The site will be sold to Currentasset Ltd if the planning application gets the go ahead.

New Forest District Council’s head of planning Chris Elliott said: “Despite the council’s interest in selling the former offices, this planning application will be dealt with in the normal way.

“Comments are invited from all interested parties and ultimately the decision will be made by the council’s planning development control committee.”

It is expected that the application will be decided in June.

To view the planning application, go to newforest.gov.uk - application no.13/10364 - or visit the new council offices at the Ringwood Gateway. Comments must be submitted by May 10 either via the website or to the council’s offices in Lyndhurst.