LONG awaited redevelopment plans for one of Minehead's most high profile sites look certain to deliver a multi-million pound investment for the town and secure land for desperately needed youth facilities. Detailed proposals for the Somerset County Council-owned market/railway site were unveiled yesterday (Thursday) revealing a scheme to include an estimated 8,000 square feet of workspace for small businesses at a cost of £800,000. There is also a possible £600,000 building for 6,000sq ft of craft and local food production, retailing and exhibition activities. In addition, there would be a turntable for the West Somerset Railway - the district's premier tourist attraction - and a possible transport interchange. Crucially, the regeneration vision also includes a firm commitment to give the group spearheading the Minehead EYE project - a campaign to provide a multi-facility centre to serve young people across West Somerset - the land they have sought for the past five years. The proposals for the 4.3-acre site were drawn up following a wide ranging consultation with local groups and their views have helped steer the five themes on which the development will be based. The site was previously earmarked for a controversial partnership development with West Somerset District Council of a wider area of land owned by the two authorities. But the scheme, which would have provided the district with a new civic centre and given the town a new library, collapsed when the county council effectively pulled the plug in the face of mounting opposition from local people. The latest plans would see the site split into four but as they stand are unlikely to realise the capital receipts needed to fund a library or a new base for the registrar service. The county council, whose executive board will be asked to approve the outline proposals at a meeting on Wednesday, plans to invest £400,000 to help deliver the workspace element. In a report to the board, economic development officer Paul Hickson said the site was not attractive to commercial development meaning a public sector scheme would be necessary. But he said this could potentially be achieved through a partnership with the South West Regional Development Agency and European grant aid. SWRDA has already commissioned a detailed study to assist the demand from businesses but the two bodies face a tight timescale for the funding, with a deadline of this summer for bids to be submitted. The long-hoped for youth facilities have provisionally been earmarked at the rear of the site, an area viewed as not having a significant value. Negotiations are likely to get underway with the county youth service and Minehead Eye leaders for, in the short term, a three-year lease, but ultimately to make the land available on a long term basis at a peppercorn rent. Discussions will also take place with Minehead Boxing Club, who currently occupy a building on another part of the site, about becoming a part of the new youth facility. The WSR will also be offered an initial three-year lease while the funding and technical details of the proposed turntable are resolved before the area allocated for the facility is assigned to the company under an amendment to its existing lease from the county council for the railway line. Detailed plans for the remaining and most prominent part of the site are more in the melting pot. But the area is said to have the potential for a mixed and flexible development possibly including a transport interchange, car parking, further enhancement of the WSR's attractions, a market and the production, exhibition and retail of local crafts and produce. Decisions about this part of the site will be made following the production of a master plan and other investigations, the results of which will go before the executive board in July. The county council, which intends to retain control of the site, plans to stage a public meeting in March in order to work with local people and develop all the proposals further. Cllr Ian Galloway, who represents Minehead on the authority, said the plans for the area came "straight from the heart of the community". "I am proud that the county council and its partners have chosen the course of engaged dialogue with local people to help determine the future of one of the most important sites in the town." Dunster representative Cllr Christine Lawrence also welcomed the proposals and said she was delighted at all the work the authority had put into the consultation process to date. But she said she was looking forward to understanding more fully the financial package that would develop the projects and bring them to fruition. Meanwhile, economic development portfolio holder Cllr Paul Buchanan made it clear that the authority's absolute priority had been to listen and engage with the people of Minehead. "I believe these proposals will result in a golden future for Minehead, characterised by economic prosperity, a re-energised railway and engaged and happy young people," he said.