ARTISTIC types in the Malvern Hills are set to be given a boost as a composer building a new media centre has revealed he is in discussions to open it up to the community.

Paul Farrer, owner of West Malvern-based company Music Mint - was granted planning permission in 2004 to convert Raglan House in Westminster Bank, West Malvern into a media centre. Work is now moving ahead on the project and is expected to be completed later this year.

And Mr Farrer has recently been in talks with Manda Graham, Malvern Hills District Council's arts development officer, about opening the facility up for community use.

He said it might involve a variety of schemes and initiatives but that he had no concrete plans as yet.

He added: "The point of the building is not to be selfish and say 'clear off' to the public, but of making it much more of a community type of thing offering work experience placements, job opportunities and all these sorts of things. That's the real plan behind it all - to make it an environment for that type of thing to happen."

Once complete, the building will house two recording studios for animation and video for up to six small businesses on the second floor.

The basement will be home to the Leapfrogs pre-school playgroup, with two self-contained flats on the third floor.

Mr Farrer said builders would be nearing the end of the main building work over the next eight to ten weeks, with, plastering, electric work and interior decorations now under way.

And several individuals and organisations have been in touch with him with regards to carrying out television, film, video and animation work there.

Mr Farrer added: "Any building project is a mixture of drama, terror, drudge and arguing with builders but you're hopeful it will be worth it in the end.

"We're not quite at the end yet but the beginning of the end - it's just a case now of how much time we spend on the internal bits, but I want to get it right and there's no hurry."