A DEVELOPER has unveiled a multi-million-pound plan to transform a waterfront site in the New Forest.

Westmere wants to redevelop the old Webbs Country Foods factory at Bridge Street, Lymington, by building a hotel, housing and at least one restaurant.

The former poultry processing plant, which overlooks the Lymington River, closed three years ago with the loss of 500 jobs.

Westmere has already discussed the seven-acre site with New Forest District Council, which expects to receive a planning application later this month.

A council spokesman said: "We're anticipating a major scheme that would change the look of that part of Lymington."

However, the proposals were criticised today by Richard Webb, head of a residents' group that the council consulted about the future of the site.

Mr Webb, who has no connection with the former factory, said: "It's a start, I suppose, but I'd like to see a real effort to link the land to the Town Quay.

"My other criticism is that there are no shops - and no plans that I'm aware of for a large public open space. This is a fantastic opportunity to create the sort of waterside facility that one would expect to find in France, but I'm not sure the scheme measures up."

The plans have been put together by Surrey-based PRC Fewster, acting on behalf of Westmere Ltd, which has bought the Webbs site.

A PRC Fewster spokesman confirmed that the scheme included a hotel, housing and a riverside walk, but said no further information would be released until the application was submitted.

Lymington Chamber of Commerce welcomed the potential investment in the town.

The Webbs factory shut in 2001 after Webbs was taken over by the Faccenda Group, which promptly pulled out of Lymington because too much money would have to be spent on modernising the plant.