PLANS for the refurbishment of Accrington town hall have been revealed.

The Grade II listed building, owned by Hyndburn Borough Council, was constructed as the Peel Institution between 1857-58 as a memorial to former Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel.

In 2014 the council commissioned alterations and refurbishment works to facilitate the buildings ongoing uses in leisure, courtesy of current tenant Hyndburn Leisure.

The existing ballroom was fully restored and refurbished and provided with new bar and stage facilities along with access to the refurbished second floor balcony above the entrance.

Further refurbishments were undertaken to first and second floor toilets to improve visitor facilities whilst the first floor level kitchen was refitted.

The existing first floor supper room was also refurbished to maintain tenant Hyndburn Leisure’s commitments to smaller civic events and social programmes.

But while council bosses say uptake of events at the ballroom has increased since the refurbishment, it is too big for some events and some potential business has been lost as a result.

Now proposals have been lodged to refurbish and alter the reception area, as well as surrounding offices, in order to create areas available for use for small civic ceremonies and business events.

It is hoped creating the new events space could attract bookings from businesses as well as attract new revenue streams from wedding ceremonies, wakes, vow renewals, christenings and other family celebrations.

The council hopes while providing a more economically viable future for the town hall, the proposals will also offer the opportunity for the building to be experienced by local people and businesses.

A design and access statement submitted on behalf of the council reads: “The proposed works referred to within this statement act as a natural progression in updating the hall’s service spaces in support of the recent successful refurbishment of the ballroom.

“It is envisaged that the alterations and refurbishment will provide the town hall with the scope for hosting additional events and thereby giving the best possible chance for continued success as a commercial and community asset within the borough, whilst maintaining and contributing to the building’s status as a local heritage asset.”