Lincolnshire County Council has passed ownership of Bourne Town Hall to a Trust so a £3.6m redevelopment project can begin.
The project will see a large community space created on the ground floor for activities and events. Upstairs, an 80-seat auditorium will be created in the old courtroom, with the adjoining retiring room acting as a dressing room for acts or a breakout space.
Solar panels will help cut the building’s carbon footprint and reduce running costs, whilst an extensive restoration will take place on the clock tower to restore its chimes.
Cllr Charlotte Vernon, chairman of the council’s Bourne Town Hall Management Committee, said: “The Trust has done a brilliant job over the last few years tirelessly preparing for the regeneration of this excellent building. Recognising the work that has gone into the project already, the committee was delighted to vote to transfer the Town Hall over, and now the exciting work can start in transforming this space.
“Bourne is incredibly lucky to have such a large group of committed and welcoming volunteers; what a fantastic legacy to leave in the town.
“I know the residents of Bourne will join me in thanking all those who have given so much time over the last few years and will continue to do so as the building work begins.”
Dating from 1821, the Old Town Hall’s unique and varied history has seen it used as a fire station, courtroom, market stall storage, and district council office.
As part of a legal agreement made in 2018, the Council agreed to pass the building over to the once planning permission had been granted for the regeneration project, and once the funding had been secured to carry out the necessary works.
Planning permission was granted in September 2024, and earlier this year a £3.3m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund was the final puzzle piece, alongside funding grants from other local and national organisations.
Charles Houseago, chairman of the Bourne Town Hall Trust, said:m “It’s a pleasure to accept this building from the county council on behalf of the town. We’re all looking forward to seeing it fully restored and operational for the benefit of the whole town.”
