A STUDY on how best to transform old naval quarters overlooking East Meon in to a green learning centre has gone before trustees.

They were presented with three options for the accommodation blocks on the former HMS Mercury site, now The Sustainability Centre.

They took advice on a complete new build, an energy saving makeover, and the preferred choice, a full eco retro-fit, which could cost up to £1.5m.

The £16,000 study was paid for by a South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) grant, and funds raised by the centre, and was completed by London architects Architype, who design ‘life enhancing, genuinely sustainable architecture.’

Centre manager Christine Seaward said: “Architype is one of the leading eco architects in the UK?and have improved the initial plans.

“We hope to source some of the building materials from the centre grounds.”

It’s also hoped that people will be able to get ‘hands on’ during construction.

Christine said: “We are planning to run courses so they can learn skills whilst helping the professional team, which will also bring costs down, and increase educational output.”

And construction will go on around centre users.

Christine said: “I would like to see it open by 2018, but we won’t be closing, as we don’t want to interfere with the schools and clients who use the centre.”

The innovative project to open a ‘green beacon of learning’ is being watched with great interest by the SDNPA.

Christine said: “The way this eco-friendly project is being approached is a model the national park feels could be used for other projects.”

Community groups, firms, schools and the public, are being encouraged to buy a ceramic leaf, as part of the ‘Leaves for Learning’ fundraising campaign.

The personalised green, bronze, silver and gold leaves, costing £10, £50, £250 and £500, will become part of a sculpture at the centre.