IDEAS for a multi million pound redevelopment at Romsey Abbey were revealed today.

Church leaders and architects outlined an ambitious project that could cost up to £7 million, at a public meeting in the abbey nave.

Proposed is a new cloister on the southern side of the church, an enclosed walkway which will run alongside the Abbey to preserve the external Saxon Rood which is currently deteriorating through weather conditions. Also in the plans are adapting space inside the church for an education centre and improved facilities for visitors, a public meeting of about 50 people heard

The future of the Church Rooms is also being considered in a second phase with demolition or refurbishment both possibilities.

The Vicar, Rev Thomas Wharton, said any new building would be within the footprints of the Abbey.

Architect Neill Beasley, of Genesis Design Studio, showed his ideas to the meeting with the cloister to be a modern extension to the Abbey.

He told the meeting: "In order to get funding the thinking needs to be big."

The Abbey aims for zero net carbon emissions and proposals are to either implement a ground source heating pump or solar panels but there are restrictions when adding solar panels to a grade 1 listed building.

The meeting heard about enhancing visitor experience and tourism with ideas for an education centre with information displays, balcony seating on the second floor, and a lift to make upstairs accessible, but this raises concerns about facilities for volunteers and the congregation.

During a Q and A session, a member of staff at the Abbey said these facilities should be prioritised as well as the need for tourism as the Abbey does not currently have accessible running water which makes things like communions and baptisms more difficult.

She said she has to have to boil a kettle to wash the cups used for communion and warm water used for the baptisms has to be carried from the Church Rooms. The Church Rooms are also being used for storage.

Largely, the proposals were well received and people felt encouraged about a cross-generational approach to the future of the Abbey.

Mayor of Test Valley, Cllr Mark Cooper said: “Neill is very good at adding new things onto old and you can see how it works at Winchester. It works very well.”

Mr Wharton said: “It ties together nicely with the development of the south side of town, kind of an extension.”

Mayor of Romsey Town, Karen Dunleavey said: “I think the designs look really exciting, the modern design sits nicely with the old. Complimentary. I think the reactions today were positive, people want the Abbey and the town to do well.”

Any developments may not start for some years as any plans will need to be discussed with English Heritage.