Museum saved and site revamp agreed
A council is pushing ahead with multimillion-pound plans to save a museum and regenerate a waterfront site.
Gosport councillors unanimously approved plans to keep Explosion! Museum open and redevelop Priddy's Hard.
All three party leaders agreed to the proposals at a closed-doors meeting.
Now they are just waiting for final approval from all the developer's board members before work can proceed. The developer, which has not been named, will be taking on the original 40m plans, which were abandoned by Verve Properties earlier this year.
It is due to take over the running of the museum on May 1, and the massive redevelopment of the surrounding area is hoped to start in about 12 months, with the whole project due to be completed in an estimated five years.
The plans are at an early stage, but The News understands it could include about 80 flats, sports and leisure facilities, restaurants and bars, shops, a hotel and business units and artists' studios.
It is also thought the new development will provide more than 100 jobs.
Council leader Dave Smith said: 'Everyone is delighted with the proposals and we all realise this will be a giant step forward for Explosion!.
'It is an excellent attraction but because of budgetary constraints, we've never really had the finances to invest and develop it further. Nevertheless, our aim has always been to see it remain open.
'Now, after discussions during the past few weeks, and with the added support from political leaders of all parties, we are delighted to say a way forward has been found which promises a bright new future for both museum and staff.'
Council leaders have vowed to reveal the identity of the developer when they have been given the nod, hopefully early next week.
The museum has previously been costing the council 10,000 a month and was due to be closed on April 1.
But when the developer approached the council last month, it agreed to give the museum a stay of execution until plans were on the table.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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