CONTROVERSIAL plans to replace a former New Forest police station with 32 retirement flats are likely to be approved next week.

Members of New Forest District Council are being recommended to approve the proposal after the applicant agreed to hand over more money in lieu of social housing.

Churchill Retirement Living wants to demolish old Hampshire Constabulary complex at Southampton Road, Lymington, and transform the site.

The application has sparked almost 80 letters of objection and a protest petition signed by more than 1,400 people.

It was deferred at the October meeting of the council's planning meeting to enable talks to take place on how much Churchill should pay towards the cost of social housing elsewhere in the area.

Churchill initially offered £584,000 - far less than the £1.5m sought by the council. However, an updated report says the authority is prepared to accept the company's new offer of £970,000.

The report adds: "The proposed development is considered acceptable in principle in that it would provide 32 new units of accommodation for older people (for which there is a clear demonstrable need) in a sustainable town centre location, and would make an appropriate (financial) contribution towards the provision of affordable housing in the area."

Critics say Lymington needs affordable housing for young couple, not more flats for older residents.

Lymington and Pennington Town Council wants NFDC to reject the scheme, claiming it is out of character and amounts to overdevelopment.

In a letter to the authority it says: "There are already in excess of 60 retirement properties for sale in the town centre, and another 44 will come on to the market when the recently approved Stanford Hill development is completed."

But the district council says there is still a "pressing need" for specialist housing for older people in the area.

Churchill has defended the scheme. Gary Day, the company's land, design & planning director, said: “The number of Lymington residents aged 75 and over is projected to increase by 65% by 2030.

“Lymington and the local area already has the fourth highest percentage of over-65s in the country.

“We need to do much more to meet the future needs of our older generation and recognise the many benefits of retirement housing, rather than adopting a negative and frankly ageist attitude towards new development of this kind.”

Mr Day said the scheme would boost the local economy by £1.3m as its central location would encourage residents to shop locally.