A retirement community could replace a popular venue in the New Forest, council documents have revealed. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Ringwood Raceway would close as major plans to demolish the site were announced.

The iconic venue, situated inside Matchams Leisure Park, hosted its last ever event earlier this month over the weekend beginning August 6. But what is to come of the area? Well documents submitted to Dorset Council show it may become a care home and retirement village.

Located just on the Hampshire border, Ringwood Raceway has been hosting motorsport events since the 1950s but the big event came to an end earlier this month. The motorsport space also has multiple tracks through the peripheral woodland and heathland for off-roading.

Covering over 128 acres, developers have submitted plans which also covers the lake, and peripheral areas of woodland and grassland. Over the years, the land has also been used for motor vehicle breakers yards, scrap metal recycling, tipping and burning of materials, developers say in the documents.

If approved by the council, developers plan to build 330 retirement homes and a 60-bed care home in the area. The proposals have been submitted by the Inspired Villages Group who currently operate 21 retirement villages across the UK.

Inspired aim to create villages that encourage the wellbeing of older people by providing “a suitable, safe and secure environment where care and assistance tailored to suit individual’s needs”. Although Senior Living do not provide care, they nominate a preferred CQC registered care provider so residents can arrange for their own care requirements.

A typical Inspired Village has around 150 units, and once fully complete, will directly employ approximately 30 to 35 staff in a range of roles including management and administration, catering, housekeeping, gardeners, maintenance, gym instructor, and hairdresser. There will be a 24/7 staff presence on site providing safety and security to residents.

It is expected that the development on the Ringwood Raceway will create 130 on-site jobs per year during construction and 56 jobs during operation. The village is expected to generate £1.7 million to the economy and cumulative income to local government over 30 years of £14.3 million.

The homes built in the village are designed with built-in accessibility features to enable residents to stay in their own home despite age, frailty or disability. To move into an Inspired Village, a resident must be aged 65 years or over, but 82 per cent of residents are currently over the age of 75 in other villages.

However, the plans have been rejected by locals who have wrote to the council in opposition. A big concern for residents is the loss of the raceway which offers good sports facilities.

Another said: “Ringwood raceway has been a home from home for me and my family for multiple years and has kept me, as well and many others, out of trouble and off the streets. It’s not just a race track it is much more, it gives a sense of freedom from the real world whilst in a secure area to have enjoyment.”

Someone else added: “This is a terrible loss to the community, demolishing this site would ruin a national sight of heritage importance for historic British oval racing. The retirement home would be well away from any amenities and the use of private car is the only method of transportation to and from the raceway.”

The location of the development in the New Forest National Park also has other people concerned. One person said: “There’s a lot of wildlife, bugs, birds that are about to lose their homes. I don’t think this is a suitable place to build retirement homes either, there is no street lighting on the main road and the road is very windy this is dangerous for the older generation to be driving in these conditions.”

In response to the concerns, the developers have submtted a response to the council. In the letter, they write: “The planning application and associated documents have considered all the matters raised within the public comments but have demonstrated that the proposals will result in a sustainable development of the site.

There are a number of other motorsport facilities within an agreed catchment area of the site, and it has been found that these have the potential for future expansion. Sport England does not object to the loss of facilities at the site.

“The proposals will result in no net increase in trips from the site, including during peak hours, and include improvements to the current site access. The facilities provided within the development will increase the sustainability of the site, ensuring that residents can meet their day-to-day needs whilst staying within the Continuing Care Retirement Community.

“The importance of some ecological habitats within the site are recognised within the planning application, and large areas of the site will remain un-developed as a result. A Nature Conservation Area (NCA) is proposed to maximise the opportunities for conservation.”