A NEW £7.25m cultural centre for the heart of Winchester is a step closer to reality after an agreement on funding was reached.

The centre will combine the city's existing two libraries alongside several stunning new spaces for art and exhibitions and meeting points for groups and individuals.

It will comprise the existing library building on Jewry Street, which will undergo major refurbishment, with extensions built both at the rear and to the side facing the Theatre Royal.

A detailed public consultation exercise to find out what Winchester's citizens think of the plans has also been completed.

The architects designing the centre have promised to try to incorporate residents' ideas in the final drawings.

Council planners say the idea is not only to improve the space available for the city's lending library, but also to create an adjoining space in which to house the reference library, replacing the service currently based in the North Walls building.

The centre will also include an area set aside for local heritage exhibitions, IT facilities and spaces dedicated to reading and meeting points.

A new hall will be built at the back of the centre next to the Theatre Royal, which is planned as a community space for talks, lectures or performances and which local groups will be able to book.

Teaching facilities are being included in the plans, with multi-purpose educational rooms to be built into the ground-floor extension at the rear of the existing former Corn Exchange building where the library is now.

The same space on the first floor will be used to house art exhibitions, enabling Winchester to host its own collections and exhibitions of national standing for the first time.

Design work on the building has been aimed at integrating the old with the new, with the new building set back from the pavement to ensure the Corn Exchange remains the prominent structure.

A new public space called Theatre Square will also be created at the back of the development.

Funding for the scheme will come from both Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council.

HCC has committed £2.8m from its Recreation and Heritage Capital Programme, while WCC has contributed £1m.

The remainder will come from the sale of the North Walls library site and the former Alton Library land.

HCC's executive member for recreation and heritage, Councillor John Waddington, said: "Winchester Cultural Centre will give local people access to a whole range of exciting new facilities and services."

Winchester City Council leader Councillor Sheila Campbell added: "This is a milestone in the cultural history of Winchester which will afford a fantastic opportunity for both residents and visitors."

HCC is hoping to submit a planning application for the project before Christmas.