A CAMPAIGN to improve Totton town centre has received a £2m boost - just weeks after council plans were hit by a six-year delay.

Leading housebuilder McCarthy & Stone (Developments) Ltd has unveiled proposals to bulldoze boarded-up homes and replace them with 50 flats for the elderly.

The company intends to transform a derelict and rubbish-strewn site between Water Lane and Ringwood Road. Its application coincides with a multi-million-pound plan to revitalise run-down parts of the Ringwood Road, Commercial Road and Rumbridge Street areas.

Proposals include a town square and a link road connecting Salisbury Road with the roundabout at the junction of Ringwood Road and Maynard Road.

The McCarthy & Stone flats will be built later this year if New Forest District Council approves the application. Part of the site is occupied by three boarded-up bungalows - one of which has been set on fire.

Tony Allen, the applicant's planning consultant, said: "The land has been a dreadful eyesore for some time. Putting it to good use will play an important part in plans for regenerating Totton."

James Poxon, McCarthy & Stone's executive marketing and communications director, said the scheme was likely to cost at least £2m.

The proposal was given a mixed reception last night at a meeting attended by town centre traders and residents.

They welcomed moves to improve the site, but said the development should include more shops.

However, the application comes just two weeks after they heard that plans to transform the town centre will take a long time to implement.