THE redevelopment of a town hall into a community facility and district museum received a further boost this week, after councillors agreed to make the facility larger than originally anticipated.

North Herts District Council (NHDC) voted in favour of incorporating an additional building into its project to redevelop Hitchin Town Hall.

The building, which is next to the Grade II-listed hall, will enlarge the museum entrance and create additional museum space.

The proposal was put forward by Hitchin Town Hall Ltd, which agreed to invest an additional £180,000 into the multi-million pound project. NHDC agreed to commit an additional £100,000.

Speaking after Tuesday’s meeting, Cllr Tricia Cowley, NHDC’s portfolio holder for community engagement, said: “We are very grateful to Hitchin Town Hall Ltd for their generous offer of expenditure to help fund the purchase of 15 Brand Street.

“We look forward to continuing working in partnership with Hitchin Town Hall Ltd to deliver a museum and community facility which the community will be proud of.”

Hitchin Town Hall Ltd chairman Brent Smith added: “We are delighted NHDC have caught the vision for the hugely improved scheme and have voted to go the extra mile and give the combined town hall and museum the entrance that it deserves.

“We look forward to being able to realise the full potential offered by the enlarged site.”

Incorporating the Brand Street building will add an additional four months onto the project timeline, meaning a revised completion date of March 2015.