After shock news the Festival Hall car park has been put forward as a potential development site, comes the announcement the future of Penns Place is also being discussed.

East Hampshire District Council has suggested both should be considered as potential development sites to be included in the South Downs National Park Local Plan.

But district council leader Richard Millard insists any proposals will be fully consulted on.

He said: “There will be a full public consultation with residents and a master plan exercise before anything is agreed.”

In the Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan, the car park is earmarked for residential and employment development. But not completely built over.

Penns Place includes Taro Leisure Centre, Petersfield Rugby Club, Petersfield Town Juniors Football Club and Petersfield Cricket Club.

EHDC used to have it’s HQ there, but is moving to new premises in the town, opening up possibilities for the site part-owned by Petersfield Town Council.

A sports hub has been suggested; affordable housing and employment development could also be included.

EHDC Deputy Leader Julie Butler said: “We need to be sure we are making the most of locations like this, so alongside the town council and the SDNPA, we are looking at how to make the best use of their huge potential.

“This could vary from leaving them as they are to undergoing a major transformation, but we will not even draw up plans until we know what the public want, or don’t want, on either site.”

Consultation details will be released later this year. But whatever the result, it’s clear the council wants to redevelop both sites.

Petersfield is part of the 57 per cent of East Hampshire inside the National Park – 250 houses a year are to be built across the 1,672km2 park.

But in the remaining 250km2 of East Hampshire outside the park at least 600 houses a year have to be built in and around towns such as Alton, Bordon and Horndean.

The council has stepped up pressure on the national park to take more houses to ease the burden on the rest of the district.