AN old station building is set to be transformed into a new community hub.

Thanks to a South Western Railway (SWR) programme that makes redundant spaces available for local people to use, the old station building at Shawford station is set to get a new lease of life.

The building includes five rooms, a kitchen, and a toilet and has been leased to the Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership (CRP) which is working with SWR on the new development.

While no decision has yet been made on what the space will be used for, options on the table are said to include a community café, a cycle hub and a base for a local cub troop.

Mark Miller of the Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership said: “There is so much potential in the building, and we cannot wait to progress refurbishment and redecoration plans with South Western Railway.

"The use of this building and others across the network by local groups is really appreciated and we thank South Western Railway for making this possible.”

The Shawford station building is the third redundant space in Hampshire to be made available by SWR for community use, following an internal review of all buildings across its network.

At Swaythling station, a building has been turned into a Free Shop, collecting food which would otherwise be thrown away, and redistributing it to people who can make use of it.

At Netley station, an additional toilet has been made available to a local community group, while plans are being drawn up to reopen an old waiting room there.

Andrew Harrowell, SWR’s Community Rail Manager, added: “Connecting people and communities is at the heart of what we do at SWR, that’s why we’re investing not only to improve our service, but also to support the communities that we serve.”