AMBITIOUS plans for a new £1.5 million town hall base in Newton Abbot are revealed this week.

Council chiefs are poised to sign a contract in the next month which will see them leaving their current home in Devon Square and setting up on the other side of the town centre, near the Asda superstore.

No one at the council will confirm where exactly they will be sending the removals vans, but it’s understood they may be bound for St Leonard’s Church in Wolborough Street.

The Victorian Grade II listed Building – built in the 1830s – is currently on the market through agents Bettesworths for

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£200,000.

It’s hoped the ground floor of the new site will house council offices with the rest of the space used as a community hub. The museum will occupy the first floor.

Town Clerk Philip Rowe, who would not be drawn on the location, did reveal that efforts would be made to preserve the historic features of the desired building.

Funding of the project would come from the sale of the existing Town Hall where nearby properties go far as much as £600,000.

Additional cash would be sought from Heritage Lottery coffers.

If all goes well the council hopes to be in its new home within two years. It has been based in Devon Square since the late 1970s.

It’s also understood there may be provision for enhancing the surrounding area of the mystery site.

Mayor Cllr Liz Roberts said: ‘Obviously this issue is still commercially sensitive.

But the council has its fingers crossed that the purchase of these premises can lead to the delivery of the hub project which has the support of the people of Newton Abbot.’

Mr Rowe added: ‘I am excited and apprehensive in equal measure that the town council can deliver on this much needed project.’

Up till a few years ago St Leonards Church was a thriving antiques centre. Since then it has remained empty and slowly deteriorated.

Town councillor David Howe said the council had been searching for a town centre hub, to house the town hall, museum, tourist information centre and citizens’ advice.

He said: ‘We have looked at sites specifically for the museum some years ago and now are taking a further look at what is now available and an obvious candidate would be St Leonard’s Church.

‘A building which is a significant heritage asset to the town and ideally suited to our requirements.

‘Like other town councillors I feel this opportunity should not be passed up and so further enquiries into the issue are being looked at to assess the practical changes which would be required to facilitate the move,’ he added.