TRUSTEES behind the revival of a Bodmin landmark are hoping it can be incorporated into a new local government administrative centre for the north and east of the county.

The plan to site one of Cornwall Council's proposed new 'hubs' in Bodmin has already been welcomed by local councillors and residents as an opportunity to bring much-needed employment to the town, with Beacon Technology Park mooted as a possible site.

Now, supporters of the campaign to save Foster Hall are seeking talks with Cornwall Council and other interested parties to put the case for the Edwardian building to be included in the plans.

They believe that if the new £12m administrative centre were to be created on the old St Lawrence's hospital complex, a restored and vibrant Foster Hall, with new restaurants, shops and cafes, would be a huge boost for the town.

Phil Ugalde, chief executive of Proper Cornish, one of the town's biggest employers, said: "We've got a good industrial base here but the town has lost its way.

"This is a chance to put the heart back into Bodmin,'' added Mr Uglade, who is a trustee of the Foster Hall Charitable Trust.

Foster Hall is the best-known of the brick and stone buildings designed by Cornish architect Silvanus Trevail on the hospital complex, but for years it has been boarded up and left to rot. Its revival as a cultural and community centre – for concerts, dances, films, wedding receptions, plays, meetings and events – could be incorporated into the new hub plans, says Gil Patrick, chairman of the trust.

Mr Patrick believes the new hub, which will house up to 500 local government staff, could be located next to Foster Hall, either within a new building or by converting part of the existing Foster Block.

"The co-locating of Foster Hall and the hub would inject new life into the site, which in turn would be attractive to potential inward investors," he said.

Already, Cornwall councillors representing the town have identified the as-yet unoccupied Beacon Technology Park, on the northern edge of the St Lawrence's site, as a possible location for the administrative centre. Cornwall Council has plans for three admin hubs for the county, with Truro, Bodmin and Camborne identified as likely locations.

Bodmin, with its excellent road and rail links, is ideally positioned for the new offices, according to Mr Patrick, a retired businessman.

"We want to start with something that's right, not cobbled together," he said. "This is a chance to build something that will raise people's spirits."