Multi-million pound plans to transform Middlesbrough Town Hall into a top class cultural and heritage destination are likely to be approved next week.
Details about the £8m proposals to restore the building to its 19th Century glory have been set out in a new Middlesbrough Council report.
Significant improvements are planned to attract new performers to the venue, which has played host to stars such as from classical composers Johann Strauss and Sir Edward Elgar to Oasis, Robbie Williams and X Factor winner James Arthur.
Town hall chiefs say the aim is to provide a “high quality, cultural venue” to attract more people to the town.
Plans include an upmarket bar, coffee shop or restaurant with a glass atrium, restoration of the Crypt and concert hall, Victorian court, cells and fire station, a new multi-functional community room, new seating and toilets and lighting to illuminate the building at night.
The Victorian courts, cells and fire station have been closed to the public but will be opened up as a visitor attraction in their own right.
If the project does get the go-ahead it will see the most ambitious development of the building in more than 80 years.
The council’s executive are to meet next Tuesday to discuss the proposals.
Funding will be made up of a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid of £3.7m with £3.27m from Middlesbrough Council.
As part of the HLF project, funding will be made for an education officer for three years to encourage the community to get involved as well as promoting the building’s heritage.
Middlesbrough resident Andy Simmonds, from Park Vale Road, said he is really excited by the proposals.
The 37-year-old office worker said: “The town hall is one of the most important buildings in Middlesbrough and it’s great that money is going to be spent on it to make it even better.
"I love going to gigs at the town hall - I’m seeing Frank Skinner there next week and I saw Chubbs last time he was there.”
Nurse Marnie Wilson, 28, from Queen’s Road, Linthorpe, said: “I really hope the project is successful in getting the grant as the town hall really deserves money to be spent on it.
"I love the Crypt but I think it has the potential to be even better.
"The cafe with the glass atrium sounds lovely and would be somewhere nice to pop into for lunch.”
The town hall, which celebrated its 125th birthday earlier this year, was officially opened on January 23, 1889, by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
It is envisaged the concert hall will need to be closed between January 2016 and June 2017 and alternative venues such as mima, Teesside University, Centre Square will be used instead.
Middlesbrough’s register office is also set to move into the town hall after it was announced its current Elm Street home will be demolished to make way for future developments of the town centre.
The council’s executive members are recommended to approve the project at next week’s meeting.
No comments:
Post a Comment