A HISTORIC village landmark at the centre of controversy over recent years, looks set to be renovated at last.
The Old Forge at East Meon has been bought by businessman Kevin Davies who lives in the village, and his business partner Matt Hampshire.
They run Mandarin Kite, an internal communications company, and plan to relocate their office, currently in Liphook, to the Old Forge, next to the cricket club.
Since buying the run-down building from previous owners Ian and Jamie Croucher, they have been working with the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) on their application for restoration of the exterior and renovation of the interior.
The move has delighted the parish council and the East Meon Forge and Cricket Ground Protection Association which have opposed previous plans for a workshop and first floor accommodation. These were blocked at High Court level due to danger from flying cricket balls.
George Bartlett of the association has helped them with buying the building.
Fifty-year-old Kevin said: “There’s a real sense of nervousness due to everything that’s happened before, but we want to breathe a new lease of life into it.
“To put its history back but also give it a future.”