A NEW planning blueprint aimed at pumping new life into Fair Oak's ageing village centre is set to be given the seal of approval.

Civic chiefs want to enhance the village centre as the commercial heart of Fair Oak and secure better use of unused and underused land.

If rubber-stamped by Eastleigh Council's executive Cabinet it could mean a parade of new shops and new housing in the village.

Main proposals include:

intensive redevelopment of existing properties between the Summerlands Road shops and The Cricketers public house for retail and office use, with a new frontage in Fair Oak Road and possible residential accommodation on upper floors

provision of new housing to the rear of Summerlands Road

environmental improvement of land in the village centre.

parking and access for new commercial and residential development

access for pedestrians, cyclists and users of public transport.

If approved, the blueprint will replace a development brief for the village prepared in 1989 which saw little progress.

Members of the council's Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath Local Area Committee have backed the new document aimed at guiding prospective developers.

In a report, the committee was told: "Overall, the proposals have potential to greatly enhance the appearance of the area and make more efficient use of an underused brownfield village centre site with modern, more energy-efficient buildings.

"The increased population may help the viability of existing local facilities like shops, but will place more pressure on other community facilities like schools."