Museum repair costs of £1.7m approved

The essential repairs to Farnham Museum will cost £1.72m

Plans to carry out nearly £2m of essential repairs to a Surrey museum have been approved.

Waverley Borough Council approved plans to repair two chimney stacks and a parapet wall of Wilmer House, which is home to Farnham Museum in West Street, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

The Grade I listed building was due to be repaired with a £734,000 grant from the Arts Council but further inspections revealed deeper issues including decaying brickwork and collapsing window arches, increasing the costs to £1.72m.

Committee chairperson Councillor Peter Clark said: "It could have ended badly but fortunately work is starting and it's good news."

The LDRS reported the approved planning application was for listed building consent, meaning the committee was only able to consider whether the work was likely to affect the architectural character of the building or its historical interest.

Councillor Carole Cockburn, representing Farnham Bourne, said: "We have always wanted to save that building and I'm delighted that it's being saved."

Councillor Daniel Husseini, representing Godalming, Binscombe and Charterhouse, added that the property was "described as the 'Rolls Royce of buildings' in Farnham".

Farnham Museum was opened in 1961 and currently looks after more than 65,000 objects.