TEN new flats and changes to the existing shop front are planned at a site in Lymington Road, Highcliffe.

The extra homes will be built by an extension of the first, second and third floors together with the demolition of a rear single storey outbuilding and a two storey building, creating a mews-style development to the rear.

If approved the re-designed building with have three flats on the ground floor, two on the first and second floors, one at the third floor level and two maisonettes at the first and second floor, with the retention of an existing flat on the first floor.

The application site, nos 288-292, includes the Oakhaven hospice trust charity shop, a hairdressers and an office let to a chiropodist. The two retail units will be combined under the proposals to create a larger single unit with a visualisation of the proposal showing the hospice shop as a larger unit.

A previous application was granted in September 2014 for seven new homes on the site, but never came to fruition.

The current proposal includes reducing the ten car parking spaces to the rear of the site, down to four and increasing cycle spaces from 5 to 21 with two disability parking spots and one space for a motorcycle.

If approved the site will have five 1-bed flats or maisonettes and five 2-bed with 40square metres of shop space lost as a result of the development leaving 97square metres of commercial floorspace.

Agents for the owners say that similar applications have been allowed in the area in the past and the new application is similar to the one which won planning consent in 2014.

Said a report to BCP planners: “The application proposals are informed by an understanding and appreciation of the surrounding area. The proposals respond positively to their immediate context, and have been designed to be in keeping in scale and massing, The size and position of the development would not adversely impact upon the street scene of Lymington Road..

“The proposals should contribute positively to the economic and social well being of the community, raise design standards and respect the established character of the area and the living conditions of neighbouring properties.”