PLANS are in the pipeline for a modern £2.5million outdoor activity centre for children in Farnborough and Aldershot.

Rushmoor Borough Council’s cabinet agreed to work with the Blackwater Scouts and Hampshire County Council to create the centre.

The facility would be located at the Runway’s End Scout Activity Centre on the border of Aldershot and Farnborough.

Funding for the project is being sought through grants from the National Lottery, Sport England and the council.

At the moment the site is used by Scouts during the evenings and weekends and already has facilities for abseiling, caving, canoeing, archery and shooting.

But it is hoped that by upgrading the equipment and opening the centre to wider public use, the project could become very successful.

Mike Hughes, project leader for Blackwater Scouts, said: “This is an exciting venture which will provide a wide range of new facilities for the whole community including a multi activity projectile hall for archery and shooting, canoe store, shower block and camp site, new abseiling and climbing wall, high and low ropes, caving system, environmental study areas and residential accommodation for 50 people.”

The campfire area where groups often congregate in the evenings would also be refurbished under the scheme and up to 250 people would be able to camp on site.

Cllr Diane Bedford, Rushmoor Borough Council’s cabinet member for leisure and youth, said: “Following independent research, local schools, youth groups and the Scouts have given their support for the project which will provide young people with exciting ways to develop their team-building skills, improve their self-esteem and keep fit.

“We hope the funding can be found to make this vision a reality.”

The project also has the backing of Hampshire County Council, which has been helping to plan the scheme by providing expertise in activity centres.

A spokesman for the county council said: “We see this as a real opportunity to develop much needed facilities for schools and young people in the north of Hampshire and it will be a key element of the provision of outdoor learning throughout the area.”