An area of Looe looks set to be transformed with drawings of a new two-storey community centre and play park in Looe unveiled.

The amenity centre will be on the site of the existing blue building, by the library in the Millpool area of West Looe and work is to start around September this year, subject to funding.

The ground floor will be a space where younger people in the town and surrounding parishes can socialise and the larger space on the first floor can be used by the elderly and also by groups and organisations.

John Charnock from the Looe Development Trust said: 'We have kept a low profile and got on with it and now we have planning permission we can talk about it.

'It will help to keep Looe on the map because we do tend to get sidelined.

'We have a large elderly community and they are bereft of all kinds of services, there are so many travelling services but at the moment we have nowhere for them to go.

'There doesn't tend to be anywhere in Looe at the moment that can cater for up to 150 people.'

The project, that will take six months to build, is costing more than half a million pounds and has received funding from Viridor, West Looe Town Trust, Garfield Weston and the former Caradon District Council.

The building will have full disabled access and it will give the youth in the area a place to hang out and also make use of youth services, including employment advice.

County and former district councillor Armand Toms said: 'At the present time there are poor youth services in Looe.

'The amenity centre is important because youth services at the school are becoming limited.

'They have had more than 100 people using the youth facility at the school and we want them to continue to use the new centre.'

Stuart Wright, from Looe Development Trust said: 'At the moment it is an empty space and we will be holding a series of meetings with the youth to design and develop the space for their use.

'It has to be reasonably adaptable so it can be used by others.

'Their involvement right from day one had been critical. The idea was started by the young people and the idea of a two storey building was that we could involve the youth and elderly.

'The youth will have a voice and will be involved not only in the space they occupy but the whole feel of the building.'

The building could also be used for other services and as an overspill facility for the delivery of services at the library such as Citizens' Advice and blood donor services.

It could also become a place for the people who currently use Morely Tamblyn Lodge, which is planned to close, to go and for commercial events like wedding receptions.

Community groups will be able to hire the space for meetings, classes and private functions.

The centre will be run mainly by volunteers and the trust is encouraging committed locals to get involved.

'We want to encourage people who have a love of being in the community with spare time to come forward,' said Mr Wright.

Mr Charnock added: 'We have to find out what lights people are hiding under their bushels because there is a lot of talent in the area that is untapped.

'It will be one of the only venues in Looe that doesn't have parking issues.'

Planning permission was granted for the centre at Caradon District Council at the beginning of March.