DESCRIBED as Òa vision for the new millenniumÓ the Alton Evangelical Free Church Maltings project looks set to receive an unexpected boost courtesy of a possible Ôland swapÕ agreement.

The aim of the £2.4m project is to convert the currently derelict 18th century Maltings building into a brand new church, to be financed in part by the redevelopment and future sale of the Church Street site.

According to project manager Steve Bradley, outline permission already exists for conversion of the front of the current church to two town houses with four new dwellings behind, following demolition of the rear of the building.

A suggestion by Alton Town Council that the houses to the rear of the church site would be better located in the car park to the side has since led to an approach to East Hampshire District Council about a possible Ôland swapÕ.

The EHDC car park would move back into the church garden where, following the expected move next year of the household waste disposal tip, it could link up with the Victoria Road car park. This would enable the new houses to benefit from an improved location with easier access onto Church Street.

ÒIt would be a Ôwin winÕ situation for everybody. It would be better for the town to have a solid building line along Church Street and better for EHDC to have a contiguous car park from Victoria Road,Ó pointed out Mr Bradley.

It is an exciting time for the Evangelical Free Church. Founded in 1949 and currently claiming a membership of almost 200, the pressure has been on for some time to find an alternative premises. The existing 1911 Foresters Hall is in need of renovation and is now too small for the size of congregation. When the Maltings building in Turk Street came up for sale the Church put in a bid and three years ago bought the site.

According to Mr Bradley, it was Òan act of faith. The congregation felt that this is what they had to do and somebody had the vision to see how it could be,Ó he said.

ÒSince then people have been giving and giving - the problem is that they have not yet seen anything for the giving,Ó said Mr Bradley who is convinced that once the old wood shingle roof comes off and the new slate one goes on it will be seen as an Òoutward signÓ of progress.

Outline permission already exists on the grade II listed building for conversion to a modern two-storey facility which will include an auditorium for up to 500 people for worship and other meetings, church administration offices, a cafe, a Christian bookshop and the potential to incorporate several flats as short-term accommodation for the homeless or for other possible community needs.

There is also provision at the far end of the car park for three additional dwellings to help finance the work.

Since 1996 AEFC members have raised more than £780,000 towards the £2.4m project, achieved not only by selling the former Family Centre on Amery Hill, but by gift Ddays which have raised £41,000. These funds have enabled the outright purchase of the Maltings building and the cost of planning and design work. The Church Street site is expected to yield in the region of £325,000 which can only be realised following the move to the Maltings.

The Maltings project is to be carried out in three stages. The first £1.7m step will be to make the building waterproof and structurally sound and to fit-out part of the ground floor facilities to enable the church to move in.

Negotiations are currently underway with contractors and it is hoped to start building in January/February next year with completion within nine to ten months.

Stage two will involve the building of first floor facilities, including the 500 seat auditorium, at a cost of £686,000 while the final stage, not yet included in the costings, would be to construct the flats to provide short-term accommodation for needy people.

ÒIt will be something else when it is finished,Ó said Mr Bradley who is nevertheless keen to assure other owners of large buildings such as Alton Community Centre and the Alton Assembly Rooms that Òwe are not competitionÓ.

While there may be potential for the new Maltings auditorium to be used as a local facility for seminars and conferences, the church, said Mr Bradley, was a very long way from considering this sort of thing. He was adamant: ÒFirst and foremost the Maltings will be a place of worship.Ó