proposals to significantly revamp a major East Hampshire tourist attraction in a bid to combat dwindling visitor numbers have been supported in principle by district planners.

Councillors last week gave the owners of Birdworld an amber light for their scheme - an invitation to progress the plans in further detail.

The proposals would see Birdworld gaining a new visitor centre with themed buildings including education and penguin centres, recycle world and a sea shore walk.

Under the proposals, a new garden centre would also be built to replace Forest Lodge Garden Centre, currently situated in front of the attraction.

The new centre would be three times the size of the existing Birdworld, going from 3,300 to 10,388 square metres. This would include 2,525 square metres of covered sales space with a further 1,514 for pets and aquatics and a dedicated cafe.

Visitors would also be able to hop on to a new steam railway which would run from the rear of the garden centre to the new visitor centre.

Applicant Denys E Head Ltd anticipates that the development, when complete, will generate an extra 152 jobs, bringing the total workforce to over 330.

In a report to members of East Hampshire District Council's north planning committee, case officer Keith Oliver explained the applicant's reasons for wanting to carry out the redevelopment scheme.

"The garden centre consists of a large glasshouse, which was extended in 1984, 1988 and 1994. The building is not energy efficient and is expensive and difficult to maintain," his report said.

"Birdworld developed from a hobby of the original owner and expanded over the years as new attractions were added. With its purchase by the owners of the garden centre, a major refurbishment was undertaken in 1996-97, but the majority of the aviaries are now in a poor state of repair and are becoming expensive and difficult to repair.

"Visitor numbers reached a peak in 1989, and have declined since. They are expected to be around 140,000 to 150,000 this year. Notwithstanding this, the present owners have seen a net profit only once since purchasing the site, which was in 2003.

"In line with modern zoo activities, it is the increasing purpose of such collections to inform, educate and entertain, while sustaining species in the wild. The education side is of increasing importance with school visits and staff visiting local schools. To this end, a new education centre is proposed."

To help fund the changes to Birdworld, the applicant is also seeking permission for five homes on the northern end of the site, possibly by the conversion/extension of the existing buildings including the present reception/shop to Birdworld. This is expected to be the last part of the development to be built.

A new single access point would be built to serve both attractions to replace the two existing separate access points.

Last week Mr Oliver advised members that the application, if approved, might be called in by the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) as the proposals went against policies in the district council's Local Plan. But he added that the benefits of the development had to be weighted against the disbenefits.

"We have talked to GOSE because clearly this is something that is not fully in accordance with the Local Plan," he said. "GOSE has said that this is something that would possibly need to be looked at."

Brian Dickinson (Binsted and Bentley) said the scheme was innovative and one that would bring employment and prosperity to the area.

But he raised a few concerns about the plans including the proposal to put a traffic light controlled junction at the entrance to the site. He suggested that a roundabout could be sited there instead.

Geoffrey Whittle (Headley) reminded the committee that it was an outline planning application with only siting and means of access to be agreed, and therefore suggested that further details about the scheme could be discussed at a later date.

"This is going to go on for three years or more," he said.

"I would suggest to members that if we are happy for this to go ahead we should accept the principle and get down to the detail when we get the specifics coming to us."

Anthony Williams (Headley) expressed concern that the applicant wanted permission for five homes to help fund the development.

"It will set a precedent, By the same token, the Watercress Line or any number of historic churches could say that 'we need to redevelop our premises'. There's the precedent of Birdworld. It seems to be sending out the wrong signals."

Allan Chick (Alton - Whitedown) said he felt the council had a "duty" to support the application.

He added: "If we are going to continue to bring tourists from all over the country I think we have got to move along with this."

Mr Oliver advised that the committee was not being asked to grant outline planning permission at the meeting, as there were still issues that needed to be discussed, but he recommended the committee could give an amber light to the plans.

"You could agree to look favourably on this once those issues are resolved," he said.

Members agreed to give the plans an amber light.