CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn a former hotel into a huge “industrial-style” complex have been thrown out.

Civic chiefs have rejected an application to provide 27 flats for people aged over-55s by converting the old Watersplash Hotel, in Brockenhurst and adding a large extension.

The scheme had been submitted by PegasusLife, which also wants to replace a hotel in neighbouring Lyndhurst with a similar development.

One of the people who objected to the Brockenhurst scheme lobbied members of the National Park Authority (NPA) yesterday and cited what she described as the growing shortage of holiday accommodation in the New Forest.

Cllr Maureen Holding, district councillor for Brockenhurst, said: “Look at the number of beds we're losing in the area.

“If we’re not careful we’re going to have a lot of tents here and no hotels.”

Representatives from PegasusLife said the application aimed to retain and enhance the historic hotel complex, resulting in a scheme that would make a positive contribution to the local conservation area.

But Cllr Holding said: “This is a large, overbearing building that looks totally industrial and out of keeping.

“The Watersplash was a lovely hotel. When I look at what’s there now and what’s being proposed I could almost weep. The whole thing totally ignores what people want. It would be an absolute disaster.”

NPA member Barry Rickman, leader of New Forest District Council, also criticised the application.

“If ever there was a case for saying ‘back to the drawing board’ this is it,” he said.

The application to convert and extend the former hotel, which closed last year, resulted in 11 letters of objection.

Critics included Brockenhurst Parish Council, the New Forest Association and an influential conservation group called The Friends of Brockenhurst.

A report to NPA members said the proposed development would fail to preserve or enhance the special qualities of the hotel or those of the Brockenhurst Conservation Area.

“Although the removal of some of the unsympathetic extensions to the historic building is of some benefit, the significant harm the proposed development will cause outweighs any benefit there may be,” said the report.

NPA member Leo Randall added: “It would take an awful lot of work to make this even remotely acceptable.”

As reported in the Daily Echo, PegasusLife is also drawing up proposals to bulldoze the Lyndhurst Park Hotel and replace it with 65 flats for people over the age of over-55s.

The 60-bed hotel closed earlier this year with the loss of 20 jobs and has since been boarded up.