MORE than 20 objections have been lodged against a plan to knock down G&Ts in Highcliffe.

The scheme for the store in Lymington Road includes plans to knock down the warehouse discount shop and build a new retail unit and nine flats in its place.

Submitted by Bournemouth-based company Stonehaven Land Developments, the outline application could see either another shop, cafe, or financial services provider occupy the retail space.

A planning, design and access statement by Chapman Lily Planning says the proposed development would “make efficient use of an underutilised brownfield site; retaining an active ground floor frontage to the benefit of the Highcliffe shopping centre” and would “deliver nine much-needed new apartments in a highly-accessible location”.

Sylvia Leonard, of Chapman Lily Planning, said: “The existing building is of no historic or architectural merit and so there is no objection to its replacement.

"The replacement development will provide a high-quality scheme which will retain an active ground floor frontage in addition to providing nine, much-needed residential apartments, thereby making efficient use of the site.

“The location would also afford future occupants easy access to shops, services, and employment, education and leisure opportunities by means other than the private car.”

Developers also promise a “high standard of design” for the proposed development, which would “complement and enhance this part of Highcliffe”.

But a number of residents from Seward Court, which is opposite the shop have raised objections.

They say the development needs more parking spaces, and also raise concerns about the height of the proposed four-storey building.

"It would be more in keeping with the existing sky line to limit the building to three floors which would allow more light to access existing properties while maintaining the height limitation applied to existing buildings", the uniform response from the residents says.

It adds: "Whilst appreciating the need to add more housing stock, it should not be done by running rough shod over existing regulations for parking or by destroying the existing skyline.

"My objections are not the creation of apartments, but creation without due diligence."