A bus shelter which was closed following reports of anti-social behaviour could be given a new lease of life as a public art project.

The Farnham Public Art Trust is preparing to launch the next edition of the Sue Farrow Award, with the boarded-up bus shelter in South Street earmarked as the location for this year's commission.

The shelter has been boarded up since 2024 following numerous complaints about anti-social behaviour, which prompted the council to close it.

John Neale, of the Farnham Public Art Trust, said the first year of the scheme had proved a success, with the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) incorporating the project into its syllabus after finding it gave students valuable experience of the professional art commissioning process.

Building on that success, the next edition will be expanded to include local sixth forms at All Hallows, Weydon and Frensham Heights alongside UCA.

As the school pupils will not be competing directly against university-level entrants, organisers plan to run two separate streams of the competition.

Mr Neale praised last year's shortlisted designs, singling out an entry inspired by a suitcase for combining strong visual ideas with a personal story.

A fountain-themed design was also popular with judges but was ultimately ruled out for the South Street site because of practical issues surrounding water and electricity.

The award is for a design concept rather than an artist commission, although Mr Neale has not ruled out the possibility of one of the designs eventually being brought to life.

The trust faces several hurdles before any design can be installed, including securing funding and planning permission. The latter follows issues surrounding a previous public art installation – the town's golden cones – which was erected without the correct permission.

Mr Neale said models of last year's shortlisted entries, which remain the property of the participating artists, could meanwhile be displayed publicly or incorporated into another exhibition.

Organisers hope to launch this year's competition in September, following a similar timescale to last year, as the trust looks to expand opportunities for young people in Farnham to get involved in public art.