Plans to improve listed town hall submitted

Westmorland and Furness Council says it wants to make Barrow Town Hall more accessible

Plans to improve access to a Grade II listed town hall have been submitted by a council.

Listed building consent is being sought to transform the ground floor of Barrow Town Hall in Duke Street.

The proposals include three new door openings, a new reception space and improvements to the public entrance.

Westmorland and Furness Council said it wanted remove "dark, difficult-to-navigate space and make the building feel open and accessible to all".

Other key parts of the plans include new public toilet facilities, interview rooms for private meetings and self-service computers.

Staff at the town hall handle a variety of public services, including council tax, housing, benefits and environmental health inquiries.

Cabinet member for housing and customer services Judith Derbyshire said the proposed works would "reconnect the public with the town hall on a daily basis and ensure the reception area is open, welcome and accessible while ensuring that staff are safe and comfortable".

If plans are approved, work is expected to start in 2025.