HYDE Band has plans for a new home in a former RAF building.

A planning application has been submitted to the New Forest National Park Authority to change the use of a former RAF building at Brooklands Farm in South Gorley to a music room/ library for a temporary period of three years.

A statement included in the planning application said: “Up to comparatively recently the band had had the benefit of using Downton School for its practises but this is no longer possible and therefore the band is in urgent need of the use of a building which it can use on a regular basis.”

Hyde Band, which was founded in 1895, has a senior band with about 30 members as well as a training band for young people and learners. It is also a registered charity which aims to “advance education through the performance, promotion, support and encouragement of music”.

The band competes in the West of England Regional Championships and Wessex Brass Band Contest. It says it’s the group’s aim to “consolidate its position with the top 100 bands in the country and to steadily progress musical standards”.

The application said there will not be any external alterations to the building and it was located away from residential properties so would “not have any detrimental impact on the locality”.

The band has already provided sound insulation panels on the inside walls and said use of the building would be “strictly limited to reasonable hours”. It will not be used after 11pm on any night.

The application (18/00721) can be viewed online at newforestnpa.gov.uk