Multi-million pound plans to transform Middlesbrough Town Hall into a top class cultural and heritage destination have been given the final approval.
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has today given a £3.7m grant to transform the town’s iconic Grade II* listed building to its 19th Century glory.
Town Hall chiefs say the aim is to provide a “high quality, cultural venue” to attract more people to the town.
The authority will also put £4m into the scheme which will get underway in January 2016 and will see the Town Hall closed for an anticipated 21 months.
Plans include an upmarket bar, coffee shop or restaurant with a glass atrium, a new multi-functional community room, new seating and toilets and lighting to illuminate the building at night.
It will see parts of the building, currently inaccessible to the public, being opened up, including the Victorian courtroom, cells and fire station which would be made into heritage attractions in their own right.
The plans add to the £500m of investments being seen across the town which has been highlighted recently as part of the Middlesbrough is Changing campaign.
Middlesbrough Council’s Deputy Mayor Cllr Dave Budd said: “The Town Hall is the jewel in Middlesbrough’s crown and this project will restore it to its full majestic glory.
Once complete it will be a celebration of our 19th history with a 21st Century outlook.”
Councillor Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the HLF has given approval to funding for this scheme. There are fascinating areas of the building which the public don’t currently have access to so it will make a fascinating visit in its own right as well as allowing us to make it a premier cultural destination.”
Ivor Crowther, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North East, said: “The Town Hall is a stunning reminder of the town’s proud industrial heritage and continues to stand as an important local landmark for the community.
“Today’s HLF investment means that work can get underway in earnest on these exciting plans to reaffirm the building’s social and historic value, secure its long-term future and transform it into a flagship heritage asset for Middlesbrough.”
During the Town Hall’s closure it is proposed to utilise alternative venues in the town such as mima, Middlesbrough Theatre, Centre Square, Middlesbrough Sports Village, Teesside University and Middlesbrough College.
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