If you've found yourself on the High Street recently, you won't have failed to notice that work has officially begun on Phase 1 of the project to transform the historic Town Hall into a community building fit for the 21st century. This first phase will see the reinstatement of the historic Market Hall on the ground floor, and the provision of associated facilities required for the building to function properly ahead of the separate Phase 2 works. The refurbished Town Hall, and reinstatement of a Market Square at the Island, are key components of the Town Council's High Street recovery plan.

It is envisaged that Phase 2 works will immediately follow upon completion of Phase 1, and as such, the tender brief for the project manager and quantity surveyor for Phase 2 was published on the Contracts Finder website; Greenwood Projects were subsequently appointed. Notice has now also been published on Contracts Finder for the appointment of an architect for Phase 2. While a decision is yet to be made on the appointment of an architect, the Town Council have been applying for a grant for this element of the project.

The Town Council has approached the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) for funding. Founded in 1976, the AHF is a registered charity, which promotes the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK. In light of our recent application to the AHF, it has advised that the Town Council has been successful, and that it would like to offer a Project Development Grant of £25,000 towards Phase 2 of the Midsomer Norton Town Hall project, helping to ensure a new future for this historic building. The grant, which was awarded as part of the AHF's Transforming Places through Heritage programme in England, is a contribution towards professional fees in order to progress the plans for Phase 2.