A £1.3 million redevelopment of Minehead's Irnham Road recreation ground is on course to give the town's football club a new home and create a purpose-built sports facility and venue for the whole community.

The dilapidated clubhouse, grandstand, changing rooms and social facility would be razed to the ground and replaced under ambitious proposals given the seal of approval by civic leaders.

The town council, which owns the site, has agreed to press ahead with the project following the results of a feasibility study and after previous investigations unearthed a series of structural problems with the existing buildings.

Exeter-based consultants Hannah Reynolds Associates concluded that a quality facility could be created to benefit not only Minehead but the surrounding area.

They said opportunities existed to raise the necessary funds and local groups and organisations had expressed an interest in using the proposed centre, which in addition to providing sports facilities could also be a venue for weddings and other events, training and conferences and commercial presentations.

Town councillors have opted for one of four options put forward by consultants which would see the demolition of the existing buildings and the creation of a centre boasting a sports hall capable of seating 250 people, changing rooms, kitchen, cafe and community meeting room.

The first floor of the building would house two community/training/function rooms with spectator viewing and holding a total of 50 people, along with a health and fitness suite.

"The clearance of the existing building and the development of a new facility presents an opportunity to create a building which not only satisfies the needs of all users but which is an attraction in itself, is sustainable, viable and economical to maintain," said the consultants' report.

Although detailed costings and designs have yet to be drawn up, local planners are said to have seen sketch proposals and are content with the uses outlined.

Consultants have estimated that the demolition of the old buildings will cost around £28,000, while the new-build could come in at £1.27m.

The preferred option could generate a profit of just under £25,000 a year from income.

The town council has backed the idea of setting up a community trust to take the project forward and run the facility once it is built.

Potential sources of funding include Sport England, the Government's Community Builders programme and the Football Foundation.

Grant aid could also come from LARC - the Local Action for Rural Communities - while the council could count the value of the site as its investment into the scheme.

The football club and youth academy teams would be provided with a modular changing room facility during the construction of the new-build project, which could cost the council around £44,000 over two years - although the club would be expected to pay rent and maintain the temporary facility.

The lack of affordable sports facilities and of large meeting venues in Minehead was highlighted at a community workshop in the town earlier this year.

The proposed new centre is seen as an ideal solution, providing a viable community asset and resource for local organisations and sporting groups, as well as a community hub for the expansion of a range of services such as the charities Home-Start and Mind.

Consultants believe that an attractive new building, built to the highest sustainable and energy saving standards and economical to run, would help to enhance the the overall appeal of the Irnham Road ground.

And owned and managed by a charitable trust, the town council would be relieved of any management and maintenance costs.

The development would also provide the football club with a permanent home, allowing it to plan ahead and raise additional funds.

It could also become a focus for conferences and training which, together with local hoteliers and B and B operators, could bring new business to Minehead.