MORE than 1,400 people have signed a petition opposing plans to replace a former Hampshire police station with 32 retirement flats.

The petition was presented at a meeting of Lymington and Pennington Town Council, which agreed to oppose an application submitted by Churchill Retirement Living.

Members listed 20 reasons why they thought the scheme should be rejected by New Forest District Council.

Cllr Andy Ash-Vie, chairman of the town council's planning committee, said he had never seen a proposal spark so much opposition.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Churchill is seeking consent to replace the old police station in Southampton Road, Lymington, with 21one-bedroom apartments and 11 two-bedroom properties.

Churchill has cited what it describes as the "significant pressing need" for more retirement housing in the New Forest.

But Cllr Barry Dunning said: "The real need in this area is for affordable housing for younger people who will provide the services to the older generation."

Citing the results of Internet searches, Cllr James Sutherland said up to 67% of retirement accommodation already built in the town remained unsold.

Members voted to oppose the application, claiming it was out of character and amounted to overdevelopment. They also cited a raft of other reasons, including insufficient parking.

The petition was raised by New Forest West Labour Party. Speaking last month spokesperson Jennie Worsdale said: "Over the last 20 years I've watched the proliferation of sheltered retirement flats in the town. We've now reached saturation point."

But Churchill has defended the scheme.

Gary Day, the company's land, design & planning director, said: “The number of Lymington residents aged 75 and over is projected to increase by 65% by 2030.

“Lymington and the local area already has the fourth highest percentage of over-65s in the country.

“We need to do much more to meet the future needs of our older generation and recognise the many benefits of retirement housing, rather than adopting a negative and frankly ageist attitude towards new development of this kind.”

Mr Day said the scheme would boost the local economy by £1.3m as its central location would encourage residents to shop locally.

He added that the proposed development would also support around 57 local jobs, both during and after construction, as well as allowing older people to downsize, thus releasing under-occupied houses for families.

Mr Day said the number of retirement properties currently on sale was largely a reflection of the pandemic.

Older people worried about catching the virus were taking time to move to a home that better suited their needs, resulting in pent-up demand for retirement housing.