PLANS have been submitted to demolish a former New Forest police station and replace it with nine homes.

The hub for police officers in Ringwood on Christchurch Road, which also covered Bransgore and Burley, closed at the end of May last year.

As is the case in several areas of the conurbation, including Christchurch, police operations are now carried from the town's fire station.

Following the move, the unoccupied building has been earmarked for residential development.

Ringwood-based firm Pathway Developments Ltd has submitted an application to New Forest District Council to clear the site and build one terrace of five houses and two pairs of semi-detached houses.

The terrace section, if approved, will be built on the frontage of Christchurch Road, while the semi-detached properties will be set back at the rear of the site with vehicular access via a bellmouth arrangement in the terrace.

It is proposed in the plans to close the access road for vehicles from New Street onto the site and convert this into a pedestrian access to the houses.

A reported submitted alongside the application says the police station close to the public in 2012 and the plans would see a 20 trip daily increase in the number of vehicular movements in the area.

Hampshire's Police and Crime Commission still own the police station site. After years of speculation it was decided to cease police operations at the station as the force continues to attempt to make savings to cover the significant cuts made by central Government.

A spokesperson from the commission said: "Ringwood Police Station is under offer subject to granting of a satisfactory planning scheme."

The application comes as the backdrop of debate continues over Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Michael Lane's plans for a £12 per year increase in the policing element of Council Tax from April.

This rise has proved controversial as Mr Lane had planned to use the funds to run his own office rather than safeguarding police numbers.

Last month, Hampshire's police and crime panel dealt Mr Lane a blow by refusing to fully back his budget proposals.