Exciting plans have been unveiled to improve public usage and customer experience at Barrow Town Hall.
Westmorland and Furness Council is seeking to make internal changes to the ground floor of the Grade-II listed building to increase accessibility and make the town hall a more welcoming space.
The Duke Street building commands a prominent position in the heart of the town. It was built in the Gothic style from local Hawcoat sandstone with a Westmorland slate roof and was officially opened to the public in 1887.
The exterior has changed little over its near 140-year history, but many internal alterations have been made and the new proposals are seen as a fresh and invigorating chapter in the history of one of Barrow’s best-known landmarks.
The changes are intended to remove dark, difficult to navigate space and make the building feel open and accessible to all.
The proposed alterations form part of the council’s wider strategy to improve access to public facing services. Westmorland and Furness staff at the town Hall handle a variety of public services including council tax, housing, benefits and environmental health enquiries.
Listed Building Consent is being sought for proposed internal works to part of the ground floor including creation of three new door openings, relocation and widening of door openings, installation of new partition walls and construction of new reception space, electrical and lighting upgrades and associated refurbishment.
The work would restore the impressive public entrance, which in the 20th century has been diminished by the addition of low-level screens and partitions. Refurbishment proposals include removing these partitions, stripping out suspended lighting and vinyl floor covering and bringing in new reception desks and furniture.
Key features of the plan include:
- Access for the public via Cornwallis Street retained.
- Interview pods removed and the space opened up to introduce a second reception and waiting area for housing with a mixture of hard and soft furniture.
- New toilet facilities to be opened up for public access.
- Seven interview rooms created for private and confidential meetings.
- The introduction of self-service PCs to allow for assisted digital support.
- The registration service to start providing appointments from the building.
- Rationalisation of desk layouts in staff office areas.
The work would also address heating, cooling and acoustic issues in the building, all of which require careful and sensitive approach to design.
Quote from Cllr Judith Derbyshire, Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services said:
“The proposed works will reconnect the public with the town hall on a daily basis and ensure the reception area is open, welcome and accessible whilst ensuring that staff are safe and comfortable.
“If approved, the work will deliver on our aspiration to improve the relationship of the community with the town hall, securing its long-term use.”
A report in support of the proposal from KPP Architects states: “Expanding and improving the public experience of the town hall, by making it more accessible, will allow people to appreciate the building as a collection of spaces which express the historic cultural, social and physical development of the building over time, not just appreciate the impressive façade.”
The report adds: “…the public benefits of the proposed changes outweigh the impact of the physical alterations, which cannot be classed as harmful as they do not erode its significance. The proposals are of a high-quality design and allow the building to retain its cale, composition and proportions.”
Views are now being sought from interested parties by 11 September. If permission is granted it is envisaged further detailed design work would be carried out in the autumn, with physical work starting in the new year and completed in 2025.
Details of the proposal can be found on the Barrow planning portal.