MAJOR plans to redevelop the 40-year-old home of Burnley Youth Theatre have been given a £400,000 cash injection by the Arts Council.

Prefab storage space and offices at the Queen’s Park Road venue will make way for two new activity, and rehearsal rooms will be created.

Arts bosses have said that the development, which will benefit to the tune of £402,250, will poten-tially double the capacity of the building.

An entrance from the main theatre will lead into an activity room with a connecting door leading to a larger performance space and extra storage at the rear for stage sets and props.

A Youth Theatre spokes-man said: “This is an ext-remely exciting opportunity for us to provide more space for the young people of Burnley and Lancashire to enjoy the chance to part-icipate in theatre, dance, music, arts, technical theat-re and other arts activities.

Part of the plans will also see a small kitchen, toilets and foyer created with the activity rooms being separated by a “spinal” wall.

Theatre officials have confirmed that building work should begin this April and continue until around September.