CONTROVERSIAL plans for a £10 million scheme to transform a former town centre bus station in the New Forest have been dismissed on appeal.

Residents have been battling against the development on the prime site off High Street for some time and their efforts paid off.

Renaissance Retirement had hoped to bulldoze the site and redevelop it with 17 sheltered apartments for the elderly and a shop.

After an initial scheme was rejected by New Forest District Council's planning committee last year, the developers appealed this decision and also submitted a revised proposal to alleviate the objections.

Despite making changes to the plans, NFDC refused this second application, which in turn was also appealed to the planning inspectorate.

A public hearing to discuss the appeal was held on Tuesday, October 31.

Since then planning inspector Sheila Holden has been considering the appeals before dismissing both of them.

In the report published alongside the appeal decision, Ms Holden says: "The main concerns relate to the effects of the proposals on heritage assets within this highly sensitive part of the town centre.

"Although the schemes would improve the appearance of the High Street frontage, I found that both proposals would be harmful to the character and appearance of the Lymington Conservation Area and to the setting of nearby listed buildings, most particularly Londesborough House.

"Furthermore, there was nothing before me to suggest that many of the social and economic benefits of the proposal could not be achieved in a way that that would be less harmful to the heritage assets."

A total of 50 objections were made to the first application, including from the Lymington Society group.

Clive Sutton, the Society chairman, said: "The Society look forward to further proposals being brought forward which will create a scheme to merge retail with residential use with the possibility of facilities which would continue to benefit bus passengers in the future.

"The inspector recognised the considerable inconvenience caused by the closure of the bus station, although, because these issues were matters for the highway authority and the bus operators, she could not address them in relation to the redevelopment of the site.

"The Society hope that in any future scheme these considerable concerns, which were forcefully put forward at the appeal by various bus users, will be taken account of.

"We look forward to commenting constructively on any further plans that are put forward for this important site and are always ready to engage with developers at a very early stage in any potential scheme."