PLANS for a new theatre and community arts centre in Totton could hold the key to rejuvenating a derelict site in the west of the town.

As reported in the Echo, owners of the Hanger Farm site in West Totton have tried for the last five years to find a brewery willing to turn part of the 16th century farm into a family pub, with little success.

But now town planners are hoping to come to an agreement with the company, Stanborough Developments Ltd, which would see an 18th century barn also on the site converted into a centre for the arts.

The plan, still in its early stages, also envisages the farmhouse being converted into residential units and a mock-Tudor village created of high-quality housing.

Thousands of homes have already been built in the fast-growing part of Totton and officers are keen that the whole site is not turned over to housing. Councillors on Totton town council's planning advisory committee have given officers the go-ahead to continue negotiations and come up with a workable plan with developers.

Town clerk Derek Biggs said: "The council has already said it is willing to release reasonable sums of money to support an arts centre and we would be looking for other grants, developers' contributions and arts and lottery moneys.

"Relatively, this is the best scheme for the site - it protects the barn and the old farm house, provides an arts centre and limits the residential area.

"With a centre for the arts we thought the breweries might be interested but only one has suggested it might be interested so that idea is very much in the background now."

Councillor Edith Randall said: "I have been waiting 20 years for this to come about. At the moment we do not possess any building in this town which is suitable for a theatre."

A spokesman for Stanborough was unavailable for comment.

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