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PROPOSALS to develop Ringwood town centre have the "potential to uplift the character and appearance of a part of the town which has been sadly neglected in the past" according to planning officers.

The proposal by Development Securities (Furlong) comprises 13 shops, three office units, 12 residential flats, car parking and landscaping on land currently used as a car park behind the old town hall.

It also involves the conversion and re-use of the old town hall for retail and residential use.

Hoards of people came to see an exhibition of the plans and to ask questions in Ringwood early last year.

The first application is to demolish buildings in the conservation area at 11-13 Meeting House Lane in preparation for the mixed-use development.

A second application has been submitted to extend the outbuilding of The White Hart in the Market Place.

These applications would come before the larger plan for the mixed-use scheme.

The initial briefing by the case officer at New Forest District Council states that the proposal would open up an inaccessible and unattractive area of the town centre to provide a more pleasing environment that would add to the usual town centre activities.

And the density of the development is considered to be low.

However, planning officers advise that care would need to be taken to make sure new buildings are sympathetic in appearance and character to the rest of the town.

Head of planning at New Forest District Council, Chris Elliott commented: "We have been working with the applicant to help them get this scheme right ever since the exhibition and now we are very pleased to receive the application."

"We will be consulting with the people of the town before we make the decision," he added.

4:05pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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