A PROJECT to build a new state-of-the-art youth centre has reached another milestone.

A planning application has been submitted for a youth centre in May Lane, Dursley, to replace the old building demolished to make way for Sainsbury's.

The youth centre committee does not have funding to build the centre yet, but is hopeful that having designs and planning permission will help attract investors.

Clare Nelmes, deputy mayor of Dursley and a member of the youth centre committee, said: "This is a key milestone for the project because it shows the community, young people and key investors that we are committed to it.

"Once we have secured planning permission it is then a case of securing the money and then hiring a contractor to build it.

"Having planning permission will help when making funding bids because it shows potential funders we are serious about the project, ultimately we hope the planning permission will lead to funding."

The ambitious plans for the project, drawn up by Gloucester-based architects ASTAM GBC Consultancy, involve partly demolishing two old council properties in May Lane and building a two-storey youth centre that is contemporary but blends in with the surroundings.

On the ground floor there will be a large floor to ceiling height dance studio with a viewing balcony, a large recreation room for games, a small office and a café.

Upstairs there are plans for a second smaller recreation zone or TV lounge, a meeting room, an art or seminar room, IT room and small kitchen. Upstairs you will also be able to access the viewing balcony to watch dancers below.

A previous bid to a Lottery funding pot called MyPlace for £1.8 million was turned down in March last year, however the committee now believes the project can be delivered for a slightly lower cost. It is also likely that the money will have to come from several smaller funding bids to various bodies.

Cllr Nelmes added: "Seeing the application submitted has made it seem more real now. We have been working on this for 18 months and obviously not getting the MyPlace bid was a low point but we have moved on and we can see real progress.

"Now we have this application in we know we have to work really hard and crack on to find the funding we need."