PLANS to transform part of a town’s historic market place with nine new homes has been met with a mixed response.

Applicants Surereed Ltd have applied to convert run down buildings in the heart of Ringwood’s market place into a mixture of new dwellings and office space with associated gardens and parking.

Ringwood Town Council recommended permission be granted for the plans which would see the currently empty 25 Market Place building, formerly used as a pub and restaurant site, welcome a three-bed town house with additional use for office or retail space as well as a self-contained first floor apartment.

Aiming to “preserve the legibility of the listed buildings to the historic grid pattern of settlement”, the bulk of development would take place behind the main market place through a passageway leading to land by Strides Lane.

Salisbury Journal: 25/25A Market Place in Ringwood town centre25/25A Market Place in Ringwood town centre

It is here where developers intend to transform a derelict coach house into a detached one-bedroom house and build two lots of three new terrace dwellings.

The plans have drawn a mixed response from residents and conservation officers, with some praising the development for rejuvenated a neglected site and others criticising loss of heritage and space concerns.

New Forest District Council conservation officer Lisa Crouch said in a report: “This is potentially an important rear element of historic land relating to the listed buildings and has potentially significant heritage importance. Therefore, this proposal for intensive development would have a harmful impact on the setting of the listed building in views from and to the structure.”

Following Ms Crouch’s report, developers made several alterations to their plans.

Salisbury Journal: Plans for Strides Lane just off the Market Place in Ringwood. Pictures: Surereed Ltd/Williams Lester ArchitectsPlans for Strides Lane just off the Market Place in Ringwood. Pictures: Surereed Ltd/Williams Lester Architects

Meanwhile, resident Jonathan Gibson said: “I am very pleased that 25 Market Place, after many years, is now to be developed. The proposed plans look reasonable and will hopefully be commercially viable.

“The heritage of the market place will be mostly preserved by the proposed development. I would also commend the large number of car parking spaces that have been made available.”

In its design statement, developers said: “The development will contribute positively to the vitality and visibility of the town centre and support the continued function of its services and facilities.”

The application is still live and can be found by searching 20/10129 in New Forest District Council’s online planning portal.