A NEW row has broken out over plans to transform a prime waterfront site.

Campaigners have attacked the latest proposal to build a large number of flats on the former Webbs chicken factory land, which overlooks the Lymington River.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Redrow Homes has reduced the size of the scheme, cutting the number of properties from 300 to 170.

But a new protest group called Lymington’s Last Shore has criticised the height, character and density of the proposed development, which it describes as out of keeping with the Georgian market town.

The group has also raised concerns about the amount of traffic likely to be generated by the scheme.

Spokesman Ben Cox, who lives near the site in Bridge Road, Lymington, complained that some of the buildings would be four storeys high.

He said: “The big problem is that the ground-floor level will have to be raised in accordance with flood protection measures set out by the Environment Agency.

“The starting point will be 2.1 metres above the Bridge Road level, which means the four-storey apartment blocks will be unacceptably high. It’ll be like a man wearing a tall hat in the front row of the theatre and refusing to take it off.”

But Redrow said the plans ‘involve reducing the density and building heights considerably and provide a greater amount of public space, including an enhanced riverside walk’.

Redrow’s spokesman added: “The proposals also include some commercial content including a restaurant and the potential for a significant new cultural attraction.”