PLANS for a new £3m community centre in Rose Hill have been recommended for approval.

Members of the city council’s executive board are being urged to back the new centre, which will replace the existing facility in The Oval, at a meeting today.

The news comes after members of the community were given the opportunity to vote, either for a new centre, or for refurbishment of the current one.

Nearly 600 people took part in a community poll to have their say, with 459 of the 585 voters opting to rebuild and 126 backing a revamp.

Rose Hill councillor Antonia Bance said she was delighted the option had been recommended by officers.

She said: “I think it’s a great opportunity for the people of Rose Hill, it’s a really big investment.

“At a time when we hear an awful lot about dreadful cuts to our public services, we are investing in the community. It’s going to be really quite something. It will be a landmark building of the quality you would normally see the university building for its students.”

A report to the board said: “The community consultation day held on November 17 was well attended and 72.5 per cent of all votes cast were in favour of the new build proposal.

“Of the adult votes cast, 76.3 per cent were in favour of the new build proposal.

“The potential benefits of a new build option are clearly set out in this report, and members are invited to approve that, incorporating a ground floor social club provision, as their preferred option.”

The centre, which will be in Ashhurst Way, will have a larger hall, a training kitchen and sports changing facilities. It could open in early 2015.

Funding for the project will come from developer contributions.

If approved, the plans will also allow the council to develop the existing community centre site for more than 30 much-needed homes.

Today’s executive board meeting, at the Town Hall in St Aldate’s, starts at 5pm. The public can attend.