The project to bring the Town Hall back into community use has received a further funding boost thanks to an increase in funding support from East Suffolk Council which further strengthens their commitment to supporting Lowestoft Town Council to bring this building back to life.
This decision, approved by East Suffolk Council's Cabinet, sees East Suffolk Council budget for an additional £300,000, increasing their direct investment to £1,2million. This follows the recent news by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to provide a total of £4,457,512 of funding towards the project.
With this funding now in place, work on the building is set to begin in February 2025 with the Town Hall reopening in Summer 2026.
The work will see the Town Hall renovated with provision for a compelling and innovative heritage hub, gallery space with a changing programme of exhibitions and events, wedding and reception venue with catering facilities, co-working space for sole traders and small businesses, a café, and additional community event space. Improving the accessibility to the Town Hall is included within the plans with a more open reception area, accessible toilet facilities, including a Changing Places room and a lift. The Town Hall will also become the home for Lowestoft Town Council, hosting the Council meetings and staff offices and Suffolk Registrars.
Cllr Nasima Begum, Mayor of Lowestoft said “I wish to thank East Suffolk Council for agreeing to provide further support to the Town Hall regeneration. We are at a very exciting stage of the project with work due to begin within the next month and this additional support will help bring this iconic building back into public use.”
Cllr Caroline Topping, Leader of East Suffolk Council and Heritage Champion, said: “A lot of effort has already gone into this project to bring Lowestoft Town Hall back into use as a community asset and heritage venue.
“Alongside an additional grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, East Suffolk Council’s contribution will help to meet funding targets and take this transformational project forward. We look forward to seeing the building open to the public once again.”
The Lowestoft Town Hall Project is a Lowestoft Town Council initiative supported by National Lottery players via The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Other significant funders for the regeneration include Towns Fund and East Suffolk Council.