A BRANSGORE outdoor centre has been given the green light to build a brand-new indoor facility. 

UK Youth's Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Centre has been given conditional planning permission to build a new indoor experiential learning and sports centre facility on its site. 

Approved New Forest National Park Authority, a current storage building described as 'under-used and poor quality' will be demolished for the new building. 

A planning statement accompanying the application said: “Avon Tyrrell receives 39,000 visitors annually. As there is no existing purpose-built indoor facility at the site, the site is more intensively used during warmer months.

“The new development is needed to allow existing visitor numbers to be ‘smoothed across the year’. This would allow the outdoor centre to operate more sustainably and, in particular, better protect the natural and historic environment of the site.”

Operating on the same ground since 1946, UK Youth hopes the new building will promote all-year-round use of the site to provide young people 'the opportunity to experience, learn and develop' outdoors.

Avon Tyrrell offers residential and day experiences and features activities such as archery, bushcraft, canoeing, climbing, abseiling, high ropes, orienteering and mountain biking. 

David Watts, UK Youth director of outdoor learning, said: “The ELSC will allow visitor numbers to be ‘smoothed’ over the year, to avoid peak use in the summer and to remove wet weather and evening activities from the Manor House altogether and avoid the impact to the parkland during extreme wet weather conditions.

“Young people sit at the heart of our work at Avon Tyrrell. Our Experience, Learn and Develop model ensures we support young people’s development of socio-emotional skills when they visit, utilising outdoor learning and youth work principles."

The new sports centre plans to include a full-size sports court, a climbing facility and a training room alongside a breakout and refreshment area. 

UK Youth has launched a capital appeal to help fund the project and has also proposed the restoration of the manor house at the heart of its site. 

David said: "This development is a key part of the mitigation needed to allow the charity to continue its work to conserve and, where possible, enhance the Manor House and registered park through better management of their use throughout the year."