INITIAL proposals for the former Regal cinema and redevelopment of the car wash in Ringwood will be unveiled.

A public consultation exhibition is being held so residents can find out more about the plans for the car wash site, 2 Market Place (the old town hall/former cinema) and 1 to 7 Meeting House Lane.

The proposals for the site are for a mixed-use development including 5,315sqft of commercial space and 33 self-contained flats and a pair of semi-detached houses.

Evans Traves are working on the proposals to "regenerate" the site on behalf of Brownsea Build.

Speaking at a meeting of Ringwood Town Council on Friday, Carol Evans, of Evans Traves, said this was not a "completed scheme in any sense" and there were still ongoing discussion with New Forest District Council. She said the scheme was "still evolving".

In relation to the 2 Market Place building (the old cinema), the meeting heard, it was originally constructed in 1868 had a number of previous uses including a court house and town hall as well as a cinema and bingo hall.

She said it was a "prominent building historically" but the building had been "butchered" and was "very neglected" and inside was in an "extremely poor condition".

The plans for the building would be to return the mansard roof shape and reinstate "much of detailing" to give the building back its "strong sense of presence that it would have in Market Place."

They wanted the building frontage "interact much more with the street scene" to attract tenants and users and leaseholders into the building".

There could be space to fit in a cinema on the ground level, of a similar size as the Regal cinema in Fordingbridge, or a 50 seat cinema on the first floor with sound proofing, the meeting heard.

Carol said they wanted to keep the building as "flexible as possible" as it wasn't known who would want to sue the building.

Occupants are needed for the ground and first floor.

"We are trying to cover as many options as possible for end users and make the building as attractive as possible for end users," she added.

In the new mansard roof there would be a flat with balconies.

Carol said: "Before we go any further we're keen to hear as to whether we are heading in the right direction," said they wanted to share the plans and listen to what members of the public had to say.

Councillors raised concerns over the plans for the parking provision and space to accommodate delivery vehicles.

The consultation starts today from 10am to 4pm at The Gateway and is due to continue tomorrow from 12pm to 6pm.