PLANS for the "first-ever" community hub in Romsey have been unveiled.

The shop once occupied by Vanity&Lounge hairdresser in Bell Street is set to be turned into a community hub which will provide offices and rooms for charities and businesses.

The new facility is set to be used for training sessions, seminars, talks and as an office for all the Romsey residents who currently run their businesses from home.

The plans have been put forward by Daley Hub.

Kerry Daley, who runs the company with his husband Clive, will be responsible for the running of the new centre.

The 42-year-old from Whiteparish said: "It is something Romsey doesn't have. Other towns have the same facility but not in the town centre, most of the office spaces are in industrial areas. We are hoping to bring in people that would come to work in Romsey and come and spend their money in Romsey."

Mrs Daley said she does not know yet what businesses and charities will be based at the new centre as the scheme is at an early stage and work to revamp the venue has not started yet.

But she said they are hoping to open the new hub by summer.

"I think the place will look great. The reception we have received so far has been fantastic,"she added.

Vanity&Lounge hairdresser closed in August last year and the shop has been empty since.

Town centre manager Mark Edgerley said this will be the first business community hub to be established in Romsey.

He added: "It is a fantastic idea, offering safe and effective office space in the town centre whether they want it for an hour, a week or by the month. It will enable business people who normally work at home, often in isolation, to network and share space with other businesses. Hopefully some of the businesses will develop such that they will move into local office space of their own.There is economic value to town centre in that the extra workers will buy lunch and coffee locally and hopefully use our shops. Potentially the users of the “Daley Hub” will also introduce businesses they work with to the convenience of being based in Romsey."

Cllr Nick Adams-King, chair of Romsey Future, added: "Romsey is blessed with a range of great community venues and I welcome this fantastic addition to the town’s facilities. I’d like to wish them good luck with the venture, and for helping to make Bell Street an increasingly diverse and vibrant part of the town.”