DEVELOPERS behind plans for a new office and gym complex in Ringwood have asked town council members to reconsider their response the scheme.

The amended proposals for the site at Forest Gate Business Park faced objections from Ringwood Town Council's planning committee earlier this month.

However, Ken Parke Planning Consultants have written to the authority asking for them to allow a decision to be made by New Forest District Council's (NFDC) planning department under delegated powers.

Ringwood Town Council's current position in recommending refusal of the scheme means the plans have to go before NFDC's planning committee.

In a letter written to Ringwood Town Council, Adam Bennett, town planning consultant for Ken Parke, says delaying a decision on the plans until the next committee meeting on May 9 creates a "significant problem" contractually for the applicant, GP Commercial Investments.

Mr Bennett says: "The additional four-week delay puts the applicant at significant risk of having one of their proposed

operators of the gymnasium pull out of the contract and seek another opportunity elsewhere.

"Losing out on this operator would put significant doubt on the ability of the project to be brought forwards in the manner proposed and would result in the site sitting undeveloped for a further indeterminate period and also a loss for Ringwood town of the local economic benefit which is to be derived from the delivery of this facility.

"It is certainly neither in the applicant nor the town council’s interests to have this site sitting vacant and undeveloped."

Mr Bennett adds that the consultants were advised to approach the town council by NFDC officers.

Ringwood Town Council recommended refusal of the scheme, which has been amended from its original designs, due to ongoing concerns over the parking arrangements and the height, 14.5m, of the proposed building.

The letter written to the council asks members to alter their recommendation to allow the application to be determined under delegated powers, but stresses this does not mean the authority's concerns are being pushed to one side.

The issue is set to be discussed at Ringwood Town Council's full council meeting on Wednesday, April 25.