THIS is what Blandford's long-awaited £2.5 million library and affordable homes complex will look like.

An artist's impression of the new building at the gateway to the town in West Street went on show to the public for the first time on Friday.

The proposal features a library on the ground floor, together with new public toilets and affordable housing - aimed at key workers such as police officers and teachers - above.

The library will be more than double the floor area of the existing library in the Plocks and is expected to house more than the 16,237 books currently in stock.

Budget pressures mean Dorset County Council, owner of the site, has not been able to build the facility until now.

But a partnership with East Dorset Housing Association and North Dorset District Council has made the project possible.

"The partnership approach means that by pooling budgets it is possible to do something which none of the partners would be able to manage individually," said a council spokeswoman.

"The provision of affordable housing is a vital matter for all communities in Dorset. This scheme will provide much-needed homes for families and key workers.

"It will include flats for rent, some with shared ownership, and a few flats for sale.

"This is an important gateway to Blandford and planning officers at the district and county councils will be looking to ensure that any proposal makes a positive statement about the town and respects its scale and character."

Leader of Dorset County Council Cllr Tim Palmer said: "The design gives us all the library floor space that we require and we are confident that we can offer a greatly improved library service for the people of Blandford."

A formal planning application is expected to be submitted to North Dorset District Council shortly. If approved, work on the project will start in October and take about a year to complete.

First published: May 23