A BLUEPRINT for development that promises to bring several million pounds of investment to Minehead was unveiled yesterday (Thursday) following a year-long round of consultation. The detailed plans for the town's key sites, which includes land bordering the railway station and an area currently used for a market, show an ambitious transformation which could be achieved in less than two years. The 4.3-acre location is set to become an economy and tourism-boosting hub providing business and community facilities, as well as long awaited youth centre. The Free Press can exclusively reveal the lay-out of the proposed redevelopment which, as reported earlier this year, will be split into four separate plots. It will include approximately 12 high quality industrial units built to Breeam (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) standards to ensure they are environmentally sustainable. The scheme also confirms the go-ahead for the Minehead Eye Project - a campaign to provide a multi-facility centre serving young people across West Somerset, ending a five-year search for a suitable site. A site has also been allocated to the West Somerset Railway for a turntable, canopy and railway viewing area, with provision also for a small retail unit. A 'public realm' area will be made available for open market and craft units, and, crucially, a total of 130 parking spaces will be created. Somerset County Council, which owns the land, is now poised to apply for £2.8 million of funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the South West Regional Development Agency to help turn the scheme into reality - hopefully by the spring of 2008. The result of the bids should be known by the end of the summer. Yesterday's announcement of the plans follows an exhaustive consultation process which included two public meetings, numerous 'round the table' talks with local groups and organisations and extensive dialogue with partner authorities. The county council was especially keen to ensure the public had an input into the development following its previous highly controversial partnership with West Somerset Council. The joint plans for the site and a wider area of land owned by the two authorities - which would have provided the district with a new civic centre and the town a new library - were abandoned when the county council effectively pulled the plug in the face of mounting opposition from local people who felt there had been little consultation. However, the county council is now confident it has won over many previous opponents. Cllr Paul Buchanan, the authority's economic development portfolio holder, said: "We are delighted to present these plans which we are confident will be welcomed by the whole community. "At every stage of this process we have made it our absolute priority to engage with local people to be able to deliver their priorities. "I am confident that the plan for the development strikes a balance between providing for Minehead's young people and sustained economic development and adds value to the important local tourist economy." Local county councillor Ian Galloway, who represents Minehead, said he was happy to give his support to the plans, which had seen local people listened to at every stage. "Without the support of local people, planning initiatives often fail and I'm delighted that the county council has listened and come up with plans that will see a development that the whole community can be proud of." And Minehead EYE secretary Naomi Griffith spoke of the thrill felt by the project's steering committee and the wonderful opportunity to move it forward. "It is great that the youth facility will be part of this scheme which will hopefully have a very positive impact on Minehead and West Somerset," she said.