First look at £1.6m plans for Whitchurch Civic Centre revamp
[gallery] This is the first glimpse of how Whitchurch Civic Centre could look when the first phase of a £1.6 million project to breathe new life into the town centre is completed.
Designers have taken the wraps off their latest vision for the 1970 High Street building, and a planning application is expected shortly ahead of work starting next spring.
The designs have been revealed after they were approved at a meeting of Whitchurch Town Council on Thursday.
Welcoming
Planned work includes improvements to the façade, internal alterations to create a more welcoming foyer, interior decoration to the main hall and market hall, and replacement heating, lighting and ventilation systems.
In the original plans, designers had suggested including a £20,000 tower featuring giant digital screens because Whitchurch's famous tower clocks heritage.
Changes
But the tower got a lukewarm reception from residents, and it has now been axed from the plans.
Phase one of the revamp is expected to cost £684,000, but project leaders have admitted there is no funding in place to deliver phase two and plan to apply for lottery cash.
Whitchurch mayor Councillor Peggy Mullock,said: "I am delighted that we now have a design that has been put together with the help of residents."
