Its elegant exterior has housed a corn exchange, theatre, cinema, dance hall and even a roller-skating rink before the existing library.

Now, after 167 years, one of Winchester's best-loved landmarks is to be transformed into a £7m cultural centre.

A planning application has been submitted by Hampshire County Council to restore and extend the Grade II listed building in Jewry Street.

In its latest, multi-purpose incarnation, it will host a combined lending and reference library, art gallery, museum, hall, two classrooms, IT suite, retail area and a "coffee point".

The plans also include new public toilets in the car park, improved lighting, new footpath and square.

In a U-turn by the county council, the library and car park will be completely closed during building work, which is expected to take nearly a year.

Library chiefs had previously promised that the library would remain partially open, but this proved impractical.

A spokesman said: "We are currently exploring options for temporary accommodation and will make a public announcement as soon as we can."

Under the plans, the car park is to be cut from 91 to 40 spaces to make way for the new glass-fronted extension.

When it reopens, civic chiefs expect the revamped venue to attract an extra 91,000 visitors a year.

A transport study submitted with the planning application concluded: "The loss of the 51 short-term car parking spaces will have no significant detrimental impact on the public car parking stock in that there is adequate alternative space available within acceptable walking distance."

If there are objections to the application, a final decision will be made by the county council's regulatory committee on March 23rd.

The Government Office of the South-East also has to give permission as the former corn exchange is a listed building.

Even the kiosk and scruffy public toilets require listed building consent before they can be demolished because they are within its grounds.