PETERSFIELD town councillors were taken aback this week to discover that there was been a highly successful recording studio operating from Lion House at Sheet for the last 18 years.

It was only when William Glancy, who owns Sheet Music, applied for planning permission for retrospective change of use and an extension to the studio that town councillors became aware of its existence.

This week, when looking at the plans to provide a sound extension at Lion House, members of the town council's planning committee heard that the studios had entertained several notable visitors including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Derek Jacobi, Patrick Garland, Suzi Quattro and Sir Peter Hall.

Architect Vincent Edberg told councillors that Sheet Music was a well-established small business which now needed more space for its considerable amount of sound equipment and an improvement of the visual appearance of the premises.

"Part of the idea is to make the building more visitor friendly by introducing a reception area and a more open feel internally," he said.

He said the existing outbuilding used by Sheet Music had developed from a storage building to an art studio, and for 18 years had now been used as a recording studio.

Mr Glancy told councillors Sheet Music moved to Lion House in l984, establishing itself in the existing art and crafts studio in the separate outbuilding in the grounds of the property.

During this time, said Mr Glancy, the business became more focused on theatre and live work. For a number of years it provided sound design to Chichester Festival and the Minerva Theatre for their seasons up to l993, notably with musicals and plays such as Born Again, The Power and the Glory, Jane Eyre, Annie Get Your Gun and The Wizard of Oz.

Sheet Music continued to expand into new markets and provided sound design to touring companies such as The English Shakespeare company and sound design in the West End.

From the late l980s Sheet Music, said Mr Glancy, had concentrated on providing sound design for conferences ranging from Nissan, Mercedes and Ford to Klein Beecham, Glaxo and Rentokil.

Chris Jenner told fellow members of the planning committee: "I'm not entirely sure that this is the right place for a recording studios."

He urged councillors to object to the plan on the grounds that it was not in keeping with the conservation area.

But Mary Vincent retorted: "Did you even know these studios were there?" She said she had no objection to the plan.

Elsa Bulmer and Kate Pitt also said they had no problems with the proposed studio extension.

The planning committee decided it would not raise an objection to the plan, but noted Mr Jenner's concerns.

The proposal will now be decided at East Hampshire District Council.