A dilapidated old navy aircraft control tower could become the landmark centrepiece work of art to Dartmouth's £80m development masterplan – and a memorial to a 39-year-old helicopter tragedy.

A team of Dartmouth artists have drawn up £400,000 ambitious proposals for the old helicopter control tower at Norton and surrounding area as part of the community 'hub' it is hoped to build into the massive 80 acre West Dartmouth development of new homes and employment units.

They want to see the tower turned in to a community cafe at the centre of a major car- free civic space of walkways, seating, play facilities and landscaping which would link shopping facilities, the leisure centre, playing fields and the proposed indoor swimming pool.

The top of the tower could be used as a meeting room for other organisations while the tower itself could be turned into a giant 'sculpture' – complete with a stainless steel water feature on each side lit up at night with coloured lights.

They also want to see a memorial on the old tower for the crew of a Royal Navy WASP helicopter who died during a training accident when the helicopter crashed near the site in 1973 – killing four.

The proposals have been drawn up by Dartmouth Contemporary Arts which was founded 12 years ago and has since organised art trails, established a gallery at Greenway and teamed up with the Townstal Community Partnership and Dartmouth Academy to open a gallery at the town's Sainsbury store.

Sculptor and Dartmouth Contemporary Arts chairman Bob Dawson was due to outline the group's plans on Wednesday to a steering group of local councillors, council officers, local organisations and developer Millwood Homes as part of a West Dartmouth consultation exercise which has been going on for the last four months.

He said the proposals involve turning the area into the 'heartbeat' of the community and give people a sense of 'belonging'.

'At the core of the hub, around the base of the tower, we propose to have a community cafe which is to be self- supporting after seven years. This is to be achieved through eco- technology, making use of a well-placed wind turbine.'

He added: 'At present there is no cafe at Lidl's, the leisure centre or in the proposed swimming pool. We are aware of Sainsbury's cafe but it will only be used if you are shopping there. It will not quench the thirst of mini-rugby players using the playing field on Sundays or shoppers and visitors who would like to meet, sit in an open space and watch their children play in a safe environment. The cafe would also help to create greater social interaction within the community and in the long term help bridge the gap between Dartmouth and Townstal.'

He added: 'We believe that visitors who come to Dartmouth deserve a good welcome and we would like to see that reflected on the tower.

'Our proposal is to have a water feature combining a stainless steel sculpture lit from each side by coloured lights at night, thereby ensuring a 24-hour welcome.'

The group has costed the proposals at £72,000 for the water feature; £95,000 for the play area; £150,000 for the community cafe; and £90,000 for landscaping.

Townstal councillor Steve Smith said: 'At the moment the Norton tower is a dilapidated, unloved building belonging to South Hams Council. We want to take possession, smarten it up and make it a landmark feature.'

He said the helicopter accident happened in 1973 when the tower was being used by the navy. The machine was on a training flight from HMS Eskimo with pilot Lt Keith Taylor and three BRNC Midshipmen, Michael Bond, Oliver Gudgeon and Jonathan Barlow, on board. All four died.