Ringwood Musical & Dramatic Society, in partnership with Greyfriars Community Centre, are planning to develop a new multi-use arts centre on the old Activities Centre site at Greyfriars.

The new centre will include a 280-seat theatre / cinema with retractable seating; 160 places at tables for functions; large space for dances, proms, conferences and exhibitions, and bar facilities for smaller meetings, lunches and dinners.

Also included is a north-facing room to provide the best light for art clubs, rooms where Judo clubs can train, a coffee shop, kitchens and bars to service the theatre and cinema, and a glass foyer area.

Planning permission has been submitted to New Forest District Council with a decision expected by the end of June.

The proposed independently-funded building, designed by Ringwood architects Brennan Williams Lester, is estimated to take five years to develop.

A project group spearheaded by the Ringwood & District Community Association (Greyfriars) and the Ringwood Musical & Dramatic Society (RMDS) has spent two-and-a-half years looking into the feasibility of the Arts Centre.