Plans for new retirement apartments in Romsey have been met with opposition, with residents saying the design is 'out of character'.
Churchill Retirement Living has submitted an application for 47 retirement apartments at the former Edwina Mountbatten House care home.
The scheme has already been controversial due to Churchill's decision to put purple hoardings around the site without permission. A retrospective application has now been submitted.
On Friday July 21, two objections had been sent to Test Valley Borough Council.
Dr Mark Viner, of Palmerston Street, said: “I wish to object to the current proposal for the redevelopment of this important site which lies at the gateway to the historic town of Romsey.
READ MORE: Romsey planning Edwina Mountbatten House hoarding objection
“Whilst I appreciate the need to develop this site and the desire to provide more living accommodation, I consider that the current design is out of scale with the adjacent conservation area and historic listed buildings that surround it.
“In its current form, the proposed building will dominate Palmerston Street and cause loss of light to listed buildings opposite. It is clear that this issue has been realised during design development as some changes have been made during this process to lower parts of the roofline of the Palmerston Street elevation. However, these changes have not gone far enough as the current planned development, which lies on elevated ground, is still a full 2.5 metres higher than the existing buildings of Edwina Mountbatten House, and out of scale with the rest of the listed properties in this area of the town.
“This site is of strategic importance as it lies at the entrance to this historic town and will be passed by all visitors entering the town and those who pass by it along the bypass road. It is therefore of the utmost importance that any development on this site is in keeping with the character of the town.”
SEE ALSO: Edwina Mountbatten House hoardings get objection from neighbour
Pamela Kieffer said: “Churchill is attempting to justify what I consider to be an overdevelopment of this site, completely out of scale and character to the surrounding area of historic, listed houses in a conservation area. The unauthorised hoardings which were put up without permission give an indication of the footprint of the proposed three-storey building-on a site with raised ground-which would dominate the street scene and be detrimental not only to local residents but to the whole town.”
Romsey Town Council's planning committee will discuss the proposal at its meeting on Thursday August 3.
On Churchill's planning statement, it said: “The site is in a highly sustainable location being situated on the edge of the retail town centre with east access to nearby food stores and other necessities. It offers opportunities for the future residents to walk to a range of services and facilities located a very short distance from the site. This is particularly important as people age, with many having to give up driving.
“The scheme has been designed to reflect the character and scale of the surrounding area along Palmerston Street and Broadwater Road, whilst at the same time seeking to make the most efficient use of this sustainable site.”
To view the plans online, search 23/01700/FULLS on Test Valley Borough Council's planning portal.
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