CONCERNED residents have spoken out against plans to demolish a former shop and replace it with a four-storey mixed development in Highcliffe.

The outline application has been submitted for the premises on Lymington Road, which until the end of last month operated as popular warehouse store G & T's.

If approved, the scheme will see the current building demolished and replaced with a new retail unit on the ground floor and nine one or two-bed apartments above.

However, the development has faced a barrage of objections from residents in neighbouring properties.

A total of 29 responses have been received by Christchurch Borough Council, all against the proposals.

The majority of these are the same objections raised by residents of Seward Court, which sits across Gordon Road from the western side of the development site.

These repeated letters question the parking provision of four spaces for the entire proposed building.

In addition the letters also object to the plans as they say the four-storey design will be the only of its kind in the village.

This view is mirrored by resident Steve Baldwin, who in his objection says: "Every other building is three storeys high. This is the village of Highcliffe, not lower Manhattan.

"Please will measures be taken to preserve the memorial clock.

"It is hoped that the flats will be 'affordable housing', which is desperately needed in this area and not 'retirement flats', that are already a glut on the market that will be much worse."

Another concerned resident adds: "There is no precedent in Highcliffe for a four-storey building in the shopping street and any three-storey buildings are set back from the roads and generally softened by tree planting.

"The car parking provision is so poor that it would be impossible for this development to function properly.

"There would need to be at least one on-site parking space for each apartment, with additional provision for the offices/shops and collection facilities for refuse."

A statement submitted on behalf of the applicants Stonehaven Land Developments Ltd by Chapman Lily Planning says: "The design of the proposed development has been informed by the scale, height and design of the adjacent development fronting onto Lymington Road and Gordon Road.

"The new building will incorporate a variety of building heights and roof forms, and the uppermost floor of residential accommodation will be accommodated within the new roof space."