PLANS to redevelop the Forest Shopping Centre have been amended, following public concern over the flats proposed as part of the project.

However, despite the redrafted plans, the scheme has once again failed to impress Whitehill Town Council, which voted this week to submit an objection to the application.

While councillors have said they are in favour of the regeneration “in principle”, the associated residential developments were felt to be controversial enough to submit an overall objection in February.

And on Monday councillors reiterated those concerns and objected again, this time due to the “proposed height of Pinehill Lodge and lack of allocated parking spaces for residents of the 35 new dwellings”.

Centre owner and applicant Orchard Grove Asset Management, based in London, aims to breathe new life into the centre, which has recently seen a number of shop closures.

A spokesman said: “We want to do all that we can to support a thriving, successful town centre in Bordon.

“Our proposed £10million investment in Bordon will help to secure the future of the Forest Shopping Centre and will help to attract well-known new stores to the town.

“However, it is crucial that any new plans are not only in keeping with the local environment, but that they are viable. That is why the proposed apartments need to be built, to fund the wider improvements at the shopping centre.

“As a result of the feedback we have received from the community we have made significant changes to one of the proposed apartment buildings, Heathcote Lodge, cutting the number of apartments and reducing its height.

“We are naturally disappointed by the town council’s decision to object to the plans, but will continue to work with our neighbours and local councillors to secure the long-term future of the Forest Centre.”

Whitehill Town Council is a consultatory body when it comes to planning applications, with the ultimate decision in the hands of East Hampshire District Council.

As well as the work to the centre itself, the owner originally sought permission to build a total of 37 new flats.

These were to take the shape of two detached buildings, comprising 16 flats and eight flats in Pinehill and Heathcote roads as well as the conversion of vacant space above retail units 1-3 and 9-13 to create 13 additional flats.

However, Orchard Grove explained that the number of apartments proposed for the contentious Heathcote Lodge has been reduced to six, which has resulted in the building dropping in height from four storeys to two-and-a-half storeys.

Despite a number of public objections to the project, which mostly centre around the scale of the associated residential development (particularly in terms of height), those in support, expressing their views on the district council’s online planning portal, far outnumber those against.

In total, there are 74 in support and 18 objections on the online site.

Most members of the public lodging their support come in the form of canvassed signatures collected by the applicant, calling on the district council to grant permission.

But this methodology has been criticised by one objector who wrote to the district council, claiming that the wording of the petition “does nothing to actually explain the extent of the major changes”, and lacks “any kind of meaningful detail to allow anyone signing their name to ‘support’ to actually understand what it is they are signing up for”.

“It is this kind of underhand tactic that catches people out and produces ‘support’ when in fact, if people understood the detail, they may actually object,” the comment added.

Alterations inside the centre will see the creation of new retail units, as well as improvements which aim to make the space “feel more open and welcoming”.

This will include the removal of the eastern and western entrance doors and canopies; removal of the brick planters; repainting the existing canopy from black to white; providing new signage; removing the polycarbonate atrium roof and installing new lighting, planters and a “green wall” of plants.

Despite concerns surrounding the new flats, the applicant maintains that the developments are suitable, sustainable and “essential” as part of the package with the other works.

Documents produced on behalf of the applicant explain how the centre had become “somewhat outmoded” in terms of format and had been “losing tenants and footfall as a result”. But, despite the “constraints” and its “run-down appearance”, it is felt there is a strong future for the site boosted by “retained local affection”.