HLF boost for Rochdale Town Hall

Plans to transform Rochdale Town Hall have been given a boost after the first stage of an £8.9m Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid was approved.The award of the initial £688,000 means work can now progress on restoring and redeveloping the grade I-listed building, which first opened in 1871.Proposals include the creation of new interpretation rooms and education spaces, as well as a full-scale restoration of large sections of the building and its historic rooms and features, including the Great Hall’s Magna Carta mural, ceiling tiles and extensive stained glass windows.Other plans include the redevelopment of the old library on the second floor into the Bright Hall; a space which would be used for small functions, as well as community and educational events.The initiative is designed to increase visitor numbers to more than 60,000 each year and create a number of opportunities for residents to get involved.The second stage bid for the town hall will be submitted in December 2019, with a final decision expected in April 2020. If funding is approved, the project is expected to complete in the summer of 2023.