THE developer of Kings Barton is soon to unveil is plans for the heart of the new community.

Cala Homes will reveal its plans in the summer for a food store, pub, community centre, children's nursery and extra care apartments.

Viv Hill, regional head of design, said: "We want to create a sense of place, get the landscaping right and create a community. The focus is to create a special place at Kings Barton."

Cala is also shortly to apply for detailed permission for 195 homes.

Cllr Jane Rutter, whose ward includes nearby Headbourne Worthy, expressed concern that plans had been drawn up for a new community centre without any input from Headbourne Worthy Parish Council which may in future have to run the building.

She said: "Headbourne Worthy Parish Council is concerned at some time in the future it will be responsible for managing when at no stage has it been involved in introducing them.

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"Would it not be sensible to involve the parish council and Kings Barton Residents Association at an early stage on what is provided in the community building, whether a big hall, meeting rooms, what are the facilities, so we know what is presented is something functional and we will not have to budget £200,000 to turn it into something that should have been built in the first place.

Mr Hill said the centre would include a large room, reception, offices, health rooms and a kitchen. He said the approved planning document would be shared with the councils and association.

At this stage it is unclear who would run a community centre but it could be the parish council, charity or a commercial organisation.

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