A WELL-known Eastleigh youth centre, which was opened by the late Princess Margaret, could be bulldozed and replaced with a state-of-the-art community building.

It is expected that about £500,000 will be needed to bring the 1960s Nightingale Centre site, on the edge of the giant "bird aviary" estate, into the 21st century.

Centre chiefs believe that the ambitious move would boost its attraction as the social hub of the local community.

The Nightingale Centre Trust is seeking planning permission to demolish the building and construct a new youth and community centre with 50 car parking spaces.

The outline plans for the Nightingale Avenue site are expected to come before the Eastleigh local area committee on May 21.

Chairman of the Nightingale Centre Trust Jim Vaughan explained that by sweeping away the old centre they would be able to start from scratch and create a building to meet the growing demands of the 21st century.

He said: "We want to make it a landmark building which will be quite striking at what is the entrance to a big estate."

It is envisaged that the new look Nightingale Centre will have a large hall with separate rooms which can be hired out by the community.

It is hoped that the cash for the huge

project will come through grants from Hampshire County and Eastleigh Borough Councils and the National Lottery.

The exciting new way forward for the Nightingale Centre comes about eight years after it was threatened with closure because its use had dwindled dramatically.

A change of management committee revived its fortunes and now it is used by up to 350 people a week with activities ranging from line dancing to martial arts.

Mr Vaughan said: "We have proved that there is a need but we need to move on and provide a bigger hall as well as rooms that small groups can use."

It was on June 1, 1966, that Princess Margaret turned the key to officially open what was then hailed as a "showpiece youth centre".

The centre's proud royal day will not be buried under the rubble.

It is expected the plaque, bearing Princess Margaret's name, will have pride of place in the new Nightingale Centre.