DEVELOPERS have submitted a planning application to build an apartment complex at the former Cottees Auctions site in Wareham.

Renaissance Retirement, the company behind the recently-completed Fleur-de-Lis flats, built at the former council car park site between Pound Lane and West Street, want to construct 27 apartments at the former auction house plot.

They've submitted official plans to Purbeck District Council to demolish and redevelop the East Street site into 21 sheltered apartments for the elderly and six affordable flats.

Cottees Auctions of Wareham moved into new premises in Poole towards the end of 2015, ending an auction tradition at the East Street site dating back to the beginning of the 20th century.

When the move was first announced, Cottees consulted with residents to ask what they would like to see happen to the premises.

Auctioneer John Condie said then: “The market site in Wareham is still owned by the family of S.W. Cottee who started the livestock and auctioning business at the beginning of the 20th century and is not up for sale.”

The Cottee family were keen that the market site is used for the good of Wareham residents and have established a consultation process to enable locals to have their say on what it becomes.

Mr Condie stressed: “There is certainly no plan to build houses, supermarkets or anything else at the present time.”

But now Renaissance Retirement wants to construct a new two-storey building, comprising 21 sheltered elderly apartments, and a separate two-storey building containing six affordable flats.

There will also be 21 parking spaces and landscaped communal gardens

Documents submitted on behalf of Renaissance Retirement, in support of the application, suggest there is currently not enough retirement housing to accommodate the UK's ageing population.

The planning statement accompanying the application concludes: "The use of this site for a sheltered housing development is wholly appropriate at this location and the design of the proposal will make a positive contribution to the street scene that will respect and enhance the character of the area.

"In locating the development within such an area it is not envisaged that the proposal would lead to any loss of residential amenity."

Interested parties have until January 24 to lodge their comments with Purbeck District Council.

There are several objections already filed, including Dorset County Council's senior archaelogist, who wants an archaeological evaluation consisting of the excavation of trial trenches. 

In 1926 Samual Cottee bought Chichester House in East Street which had previously been a school. He resold the house and much of the garden, retaining the site where the former auction house is now, but his main office remained at North Street.

The present large buildings were built at this time which were used for the selling of cattle and produce.

Cattle continued to be sold at the site during up until 1954, when the regulations were changed and many animals were taken to bigger markets, but cattle markets were still held about five times a year at Wareham.

Over the years the auction house continued to grow and develop. It was renamed Cottees in the 1980s.