PLANS to extend a community centre in Ferndown are set to be approved next week.

East Dorset District Council’s application to revamp the Barrington Centre will be considered by its own planning committee on Wednesday.

If approved, the application would allow the construction of a new entrance area for the centre; an extension to its courtyard; demolition of its public toilets and reprovision inside; and the relocation of its bar to the café to allow an events space to be created.

Expansion of the community centre is one of the priorities of the Ferndown town centre strategy which supports the development of a larger café and access to its internal toilets.

Although the majority of the toilets will be closed to the public from 10pm until 8am, three will be available to people with a Radar key.

A report to the committee says that the replacement toilets are “an improvement on the existing situation”.

As the application has been submitted by the council, it will be determined by councillors rather than planning officers.

However, a report to the planning committee recommends that planning permission is granted.

“The Barrington Centre is a valued and important community space but its late-20th century design provides only limited interaction between the building and the street,” it says.

“The new frontage would provide a more modern character to the centre and would elevate its position… to make the centre identifiable as a landmark and destination building.”

The application will be considered at next Wednesday’s meeting of the planning committee.