An application for the renewal of planning approval to transform Midsomer Norton Town Hall has been submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council by the Midsomer Norton Town Trust.

Originally granted planning permission in July 2015, work has been in hand ever since by the Town Trust to complete the asset transfer of the building from B&NES as well as beginning to explore funding sources for the project.

The core aim of the transformation project is to broadly reinstate the original ground floor Market Hall, construct a rear extension for community meeting rooms, storage and service rooms – all backed with a complete replacement of all internal services such as rewiring, heating and making the building energy efficient.

This would then make the heritage building easier to use, open up its full potential and thereby ensure its long term sustainability as a community building.

Cllr Steve Plumley, Deputy Mayor of Midsomer Norton, said: “The Town Hall is the most prominent building in the High Street and the Town Council strongly believes that the Trust’s efforts to transform this Grade II Listed building will not only provide a fantastic venue for local community events and activities of all kinds, but also provide a catalyst for regenerating our local heritage and economy.”

A local landmark, the building sits within the Midsomer Norton and Welton Conservation Area and serves as a key viewpoint for the town, but it has suffered extensive, ill-considered changes through the years, ranging from the loss of the original ground floor Market Hall to notable architectural features such as the gothic finials from the roof-line.

The proposed restoration and extension project would support the improving trend towards positive changes to Midsomer Norton’s designation as a conservation area ‘at risk’ with a ‘very bad’ condition (Heritage England 2017).

Key to the eventual fund-raising success of the Town Trust will be displaying the parallel efforts of the dynamic team of Trustees at the Midsomer Norton Community Trust to show how the building is being used.

In recent years, they have not only worked to build up an impressive base of community group users, but also launched a highly successful community cinema and range of arts events and activities.