A new village hall for a Dorset community has been approved.

Dorset Council has given the green light for the £530,000 hall on the former county council depot site at Longburton, near Sherborne.

It will replace the old hall, which was cramped, and which will now be sold for conversion to a home.

Cam Vale Parish Council will be responsible for the new hall and adjoining play area and car park off Street Lane close to the main Dorchester to Sherborne road. The rest of the former depot land is to be developed with housing by the Aster Group.

The new two-storey hall includes a car park for 14 vehicles with two disability spaces and space for six cycles.

Including in the new building will be space for a play group, a meeting room, kitchen, store and toilets. Access to the hall will be via a new road which will be built by the Aster Group.

Financial backing for the hall has come from a £78,800 grant and a £20,000 loan from the former West Dorset District Council – the loan being repaid by the parish council over a 10-year period.

The former county council had agreed in principle to pay £196,000 towards community facilities on the site.

The hall is expected to be large enough to play badminton unlike the existing hall which is only just big enough for table tennis. Dance sessions, cinema, talks and demonstrations are being planned for the new building.