PLANS for a long-awaited youth club in Tadley are progressing well.

A planning application has been lodged with the borough council, and hundreds of thousands of pounds have been secured to finance the project.

It has been more than seven years since the idea was first mooted by Tadley and District Community Association (TDCA).

Now, following a successful public poll and the acquisition of the land from Hampshire County Council, a planning application has been lodged with the borough council. A decision is expected to be made on the proposal by August 22.

Adrian Noad, chairman of TDCA, said the organisation has secured £816,000 of backing to build the facility, which will be created in land adjacent to the community centre, in Newchurch Road.

He said: “This includes contingency money and we are hoping to be able to complete the build slightly under budget. There are a number of different organisations and groups which have helped us financially.”

The planning application is for a timber-frame building which will feature a multi-purpose hall. A grassy recreational space will be created outside the building with a paved pedestrian pathway. The plans also show 60 new parking spaces.

Jobs will be created for three part-time employees, and the opening hours of the youth club will be between 9am and 11pm.

Mr Noad said: “We are hoping that once the planning application is completed, we can get on with building it as soon as possible.

“It has been several years since we first approached the council, so it has taken a long time to get to this point.”