A FORMER children’s centre which has stood empty for more than a year could be for a refurbishment in to a café and bistro.

A plan has gone in to transform the South Barn, located at the Courtyard, in Great Binfields Road, Lychpit, which used to be home to the Courtyard Children’s Centre.

The Grade II listed building was closed down as a children’s centre in December 2016 when budget cuts from Hampshire County Council led to the axing of 43 of the county’s 54 centres, but the new plan is to use the site as a café/ bistro.

A planning statement submitted with the application states the site would be idea for the proposal.

The statement reads: “Lychpit is primarily a residential area with no cafés. This area is very popular with families because of its excellent reputation for the local primary school.

“We consider the former children’s centre to be an ideal space for the café because it is conveniently separated into three rooms, which fits perfectly into our business plan.”

The applicant aims to create a community-based space with a friendly and lively safe place for families, where children can run and play outside in the courtyard during summer.

If planning permission is granted, the applicant has also stated the site would be available for community workshops,

The planning statement adds: “We envisage our daytime café/ bistro by evening to bring people together through the use of food and drink, community workshops, networking meetings and social gatherings.

“We consider the family friendly café to compliment the former use of the building as a children’s centre, whilst at the same time re-energising the courtyard area that was once part of a thriving farm.”

Since the location went on the market, agents London Clancy say an array of nurseries and private clinicians have enquired about the building but said it was not suitable for their needs, as did a NHS midwifery department.

Overall, 17 viewings failed to secure a new tenant for the South Barn.

A decision on the plan is due to be made by Friday, 4 May. For more information on the plan, go to planning.basingstoke.gov.uk and search for the reference 18/00612/FUL.