THE next stage of a project to redevelop the south of Romsey's town centre has begun with a mass consultation.

The Romsey Future partnership, which is formed of a number of groups from within Romsey, has launched the consultation on the creation of a masterplan to base the next stage of the scheme.

As reported earlier this summer, Romsey Future announced plans to redevelop the area, though no cost timescale or pre-determined ideas had been confirmed.

The partnership has now appointed Nexus Planning and Perkins and Will architects to lead the consultation with residents, businesses and community groups on their ambitions and ideas for the area.

The space includes Crosfield Hall and the bus station.

Consultation work has now begun, and will run until the end of October, with Romsey Future saying the feedback will be used to help create a supplementary planning document to set out the community's aspirations for the area for future developers.

Chair of Romsey Future, councillor Nick Adams-King said: "This is an exciting, once-in-a-generation opportunity. I commend everyone with an interest in the future of Romsey to get involved and have their say.

"We have very much enjoyed speaking to people about their ideas and aspirations for the south of the town centre so far and I look forward to gathering further feedback over the next few weeks."

As well as appearing at the Romsey Show and Romsey Food Festival, representatives of the group will also be visiting other venues and events including Romsey Market on September 21 and 22 between 9.30am and 1pm.

Cllr Adams-King added: "During the community involvement exercise to establish Romsey Future many people spoke about their desire to see the redevelopment of the south side of the town centre, including the Crosfield Hall site.

"They believed that this would help to improve facilities in the town and protect and enhance Romsey's retail centre.

"We have listened to those aspirations and have commenced a process which will help the people of the town and surrounding villages to build upon those original ideas."

The Romsey Future project began in November 2013 with the intention of developing a strategic vision shared by the organisations working in the town.

The group is aiming to complete the supplementary planning document by February 2020.

Anyone wanting to submit their suggestions can do so by visiting www.romseyfuture.org.uk/sotc-haveyoursay. Information is also available at the Former Magistrates' Court.