PLANS to revamp a popular Botley Country park with a £550,000 investment have been submitted.

Manor Farm Country Park is set to expand its attractions in 2020, with a play barn set to be constructed within the farm area, full of fun play equipment for children to enjoy.

An application for the popular country park to build the new 'farm-themed play barn' on the current site has been formally submitted by Hampshire County Council.

If granted, the barn structure would include outdoor play equipment for children aged eight or younger, an area for food and refreshments, seating and toilet facilities, in a bid to entice families to stay at the farm for longer, ensuring they get the "best value for money".

Hampshire County Council’s executive member for recreation and heritage, Councillor Seán Woodward, said: “Our planning application to introduce a farm-themed play barn at Manor Farm Country Park forms part of the County Council’s continued transformation programme to modernise our country parks and expand their offering to visitors of all ages.

"If permission is granted, the play barn would be a fun and interactive space, housing outdoor play equipment along with a milking parlour, a climb-on cow and soft furnishings. and there would also be a range of facilities for everyone to use, including catering, refreshments, hand-washing and toilets.

"We believe that this would be a fantastic addition to Manor Farm Country Park, enabling visitors to have a highly enjoyable experience and get the very best value for money."

The county council has allocated £550,000 of funding to the project to cover a range of works, including the development of a play barn, improvements to refreshment, education, car parking and toilet facilities as well as improvement work to footpaths and drainage systems.

Assuming the plans will be approved by the Eastleigh Borough Council, work is set to begin in the early spring of 2020, and be completed for Summer 2020, but further details would be provided as the works progress.