New Museum and Gallery: crucial decisions due soon
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is to decide in late November on an application for £2.5 million of funding –almost a third of the total cost. They have already awarded £300,000.
And on November 16, St Albans City and District Council will consider an application for planning permission.
An update on progress was given to the Council’s Local Services Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 5 November.
The conversion of the Town Hall into a new museum and gallery is at the heart of the Council’s ambition to rejuvenate the cultural life of the District.
The overall cost will be £7.75 million with the Council committed to providing capital funding of £2.55 million and revenue funding of £250,000. It will also seek to provide £500,000 from other sources.
St Albans Museum and Galleries Trust, a registered charity, is leading efforts to raise £1.7 million with the HLF being asked to provide the rest.
The Trust has set targets for donations of £570,000 from charitable foundations, £926,000 from wealthy individuals, £70,000 from businesses and £134,000 from the community.
Bids have been submitted to major foundations that award grants to projects they believe will improve the artistic and cultural life of the nation.
A planning application to turn the Town Hall, a Grade 2 Listed Building, into the museum and gallery is to go before the Council’s Planning Referrals Committee on 16 November. Listed Building consent is also required.
The application may then be sent with a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark. He is likely to announce his decision in mid-January.
If the finance and planning approvals are obtained, construction could start in June 2016 and be completed in mid-summer 2017 with the museum and gallery opening in late autumn.
Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Chair of the Local Services Scrutiny Committee for St Albans City and District Council, said: “This is an ambitious and important project which seeks to benefit residents and visitors alike.
“The Committee examined the fund-raising plan and the business case for the new museum when it is operational.
“It is disappointing that there has been such slow progress in raising funds from trusts, foundations and individuals over the past year. We must hope that a successful HLF bid will trigger greater interest.”
For more details about the St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust, registered charity number 1051868, and how to donate, please see: http://www.stalbansmuseumsandgalleriestrust.org.uk/
For more details about the new museum and galleries project, please see: https://www.stalbansmuseumsandgalleriestrust.org.uk/projects-2/
The webcast of this Committee meeting has now been archived. Should you wish to view it please contact Elizabeth Heath on 01727 819519 or email: Elizabeth.Heath@stalbans.gov.uk
The agenda and papers for the meeting are available at: http://stalbans.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=389.
Councillor Contact:
Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Chair of the Local Services Scrutiny Committee of St Albans City & District Council. Tel: 07761-232064 Email: anthonyrowlands@hotmail.com
Contact for the media:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City & District Council
Tel: 01727 296130
E-mail: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk