A HAMPSHIRE town centre is in line for a new square as part of its multi-million pound facelift.

Eastleigh Borough Council is creating a new civic hub for itself at Eastleigh House, which could cost up to £7m.

Now the council has announced plans to create a new square for events and performances at Wells Place.

A further £180,000 will be spent revamping the central area’s street furniture.

The council plans to invest in 184 new items of bright stainless steel street furniture for Eastleigh town centre, which will include seats, benches, bollards, bins and cycle racks.

Civic chiefs want a coordinated scheme throughout the town in High Street, Market Street, Wells Place, Leigh Rd Precinct and Market Place.

Installation should start during September and finish in November – though a time frame has yet to be set for the town square proposal.

Those behind it say it is designed to help reduce street clutter by grouping new elements together making them easier to clean and maintain.

Street furniture was chosen and funded by the Eastleigh Local Area committee.

This scheme is part of a wider programme of ongoing improvement works to the town centre, which include improved visitor information signs, improved signage for Mitchell Road Car Park, new lamp columns that can take banners to promote the town and improvements to the railway station forecourt.

The new borough council headquarters, which include extensive refurbishment and a revamp of the neighbouring Wessex House business centre and the creation of a landmark “glass box”, should be ready for staff to move into from their current site in Leigh Road by March next year.

Chair of Eastleigh LAC Cllr Paul Bicknell said: “Eastleigh is a great place to live and this is an exciting time for the town centre and Eastleigh town as a whole, with a number of new schemes.

“The new street furniture will help to improve the experience of visitors to the town and help to strengthen the town’s identity by providing an eye-catching and co-ordinated design.”

He said investment in regeneration was a key priority for the Eastleigh Area Committee.

“We have an ongoing commitment to invest in the town to provide a high quality environment for shoppers and visitors to enjoy and where local businesses can prosper now and in the future,” he added.