WAREHAM'S former auction house site should be excavated for historical remains before any flats are built, says County Hall's senior archaeologist.

Developers Renaissance Retirement, the company behind Wareham's recently-completed Fleur-de-Lis complex, has submitted a planning application for another apartment complex at the former Cottees Auction House site.

However, Dorset County Council senior archaeologist Steve Wallis has written to Purbeck District Council (PDC) advising them to consider sanctioning an archaeological evaluation at the East Street site - consisting of the excavation of trial trenches - before any planning decision is made.

Mr Wallis says there is potential for "archaeological remains associated with the early development of Wareham to be present" and "notably for evidence of former properties on the East Street frontage."

Plans have been submitted to demolish and redevelop the East Street auction house into 21 sheltered apartments for the elderly and six affordable flats.

Neighbour Mark Titman, of East Street, Wareham, submitted a three page document to council planning bosses outlining his opposition to the plans.

He said: "This is a massively overdeveloped proposal that is crass in scale and is essentially a very large block of flats.

"Without a sense of place, character or modest scale that Wareham has retained over the years."

Meanwhile, Lucia Kirk, also of East Street, agreed the complex would be too large and feared it would dominate the street.

She added.: "The plan preserves nothing of the market heritage of that site."

Cottees Auctions moved into new premises in Poole towards the end of 2015. The Wareham site is owned by the family of S.W.Cottee.

When the move was first announced Cottees consulted, on behalf of the owners, to find out what residents would like to see happen to the premises.

Back in 2014 Cottees auctioneer John Condie - who has since left the company - said: "There is certainly no plan to build houses, supermarkets or anything else at the present time."

Renaissance Retirement associate planning director Simon McFarlane said he's pleased the application has finally been lodged.

He added: "As the council (PDC) has identified that an ageing population is a key issue for the district, it's vital that dedicated housing for the elderly is delivered locally.

"Our proposals would make a contribution to helping to meet this need through the redevelopment of a vacant site that is ideally located close to shops and services.

"It is also worth recognising that our scheme would help release under occupied family housing as well as benefitting the local economy in both the short term during the construction period and in the long term as residents rely on existing local businesses."