THE LONG-held vision of purpose-built premises for the Kings Arm’s Youth Project in Petersfield looks set to become a reality.

By the summer of 2018, it is anticipated, the charity will either have moved into a new, self-contained site at Love Lane playing fields, or into a redeveloped Avenue Pavilion community centre.

This ends years of uncertainty over its present base in the Festival Hall car park, its home for the last 16 years.

Short term leases from the private landlord, who is looking to commercially develop the site, have meant constant worry about the future for King’s Arms staff.

Putting time and effort into investigating other possible premises in town – 21 in all, including the former police station which will become part of Petersfield Museum –?has taken its toll.

“It’s been a long time coming, but we are hugely excited to now make the vision a reality and to research something that is actually going to happen,” said operations manager Caroline Lacklison.

“It fantastic for Petersfield too and for its young people to have a centre like this for the community.”

The King’s Arms, which supports young people in the town and surrounding villages, including young carers and those with special needs, will now explore both the Petersfield Town Council sites.

The preferred option is the Avenue Pavilion as it is more central for the 200 young people who use its facilities each week, but staff and trustees are keeping an open mind about both sites.

It is thought the new building will cost around £1.5m, with almost a third of that sum –?£480,000 –?already in the King’s Arms coffers, so a major fundraising drive will soon be launched.

Meanwhile a team, including architects from Spanish-based company Vincent Edberg who have offered their services for free, will start to draw up plans.

There will be regular meetings with Petersfield Town Council which has, Caroline says, been hugely supportive and helpful.

A new two-year lease on the current two-storey building has just been signed, so the new premises will have to be ready to move into in the summer of 2018. The young people at King’s Arms will be asked for their views on what they would like to see in the new centre.