DEMOLITION work is due to start at the former district council offices in Ringwood to make way for new sheltered living accommodation.

The site at Christchurch Road is being developed by Churchill Retirement Living, which hopes to start demolition work before Christmas in order to build 25 apartments on the site.

Churchill Retirement Living planning director Andrew Burgess said: “We are keen to start the development especially as it is our first development in our home town of Ringwood.”

Mr Burgess added: “This will be a £4,000,000 investment in Ringwood and will regenerate this part of Ringwood and relate sensitively to the conservation area.

“The construction start date is still being finalised but we are keen to demolish the building and construction is likely to be in early 2015 with first occupations in 2016.

The application was given the go-ahead by New Forest District Council’s planning development control committee on October 8.

He said: “We were delighted that we won the vote but it was close and planning permission was granted by 10 votes to nine. Councillors chose to go against the recommendation of the planning officer and recognised the overall planning benefits after giving the proposal very careful consideration.

“This is an important development for Churchill Retirement Living as it is in our home town close to our headquarters.

“Spencer McCarthy, the chairman and group managing director, addressed the planning committee personally to demonstrate his commitment to bringing forward the development as soon as possible, the high quality design and the local need for retirement housing in Ringwood.”

Churchill Retirement Living has appealed to the planning inspectorate regarding a decision by the council to refuse a separate planning application for retention of flag pole signs, hoardings, and a pole mounted hoarding sign at the site.

The council had refused the application on the grounds that it is in a sensitive location within the Ringwood Conservation Area and within the setting of several listed buildings, and the hoardings, flagpoles and pole mounted sign would detrimental to the appearance of the conservation area.