A MAJOR redevelopment scheme that could have created hundreds of jobs in the New Forest has been rejected by councillors.

District planners threw out a proposal to transform ten acres of industrial land which has stood derelict for several years.

Morrish Builders wanted to provide a mixed development of homes and industry on the former Wellworthy foundry site in Christchurch Road, Ringwood.

The scheme would have enabled Coutts and other employers to relocate and take on extra staff. But councillors said the whole site should be retained for industry and dismissed the application.

Coutts, which supplies books to libraries all over the world, has outgrown its current premises on the Headlands Business Park off Salisbury Road, Ringwood.

Director Peter Gray said: "We have huge development plans, but the council's decision has knocked them off course.

"It's sad that the council and the developer can't find a compromise that would unlock land which is currently standing idle."

Jeremy Heron, president of Ringwood Chamber of Trade, said: "Industrial land should be saved because there's a shortage in the district, but anything that leaves a site derelict is no help to anyone.

"We can only hope the developer continues its dialogue with the council and comes up with a scheme that's acceptable."

Ringwood councillor Christine Ford, who spoke in support of the proposal to revitalise the former Wellworthy site.

She said: "For years the people of Ringwood have wondered how much longer that eyesore is going to be tolerated.

"Let's get on with it and end this shocking waste of land by putting it to good use.

"Local companies are currently bursting at the seams. Their expansion would create hundreds of jobs, which makes this an opportunity not to be missed."

But fellow Ringwood councillor Michael Thierry said it would be wrong to use part of the site for housing, even though 15 of the 50 properties would be affordable homes.

"This site has been derelict for many years because the right use for it has not come along," said Cllr Thierry.

"It's easy to look at the application and say we'll get some low-cost housing, but this site must be retained for commercial use."

A report to councillors said the residential development would devour part of a significant site, reducing employment land in the area to an unacceptable level.