Bristol's Colston Hall wins £4.75m heritage lottery grant

More than £30m has been raised towards the redevelopment of the Colston Hall

A £45m plan to redevelop a concert venue in Bristol has won a £4.75m heritage lottery grant.

The money brings the total raised towards the redevelopment of the Colston Hall to more than £30m.

Louise Mitchell, from the hall, said the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) was "fantastic news".

The 150-year-old music venue is Bristol's largest and is in need of internal modernisation, with plans to convert the cellars into studios.

It is hoped work will begin on the redevelopment next year

Since the fundraising campaign was launched in September 2014, £25m has been pledged by Bristol City Council, the government and Arts Council England.

Ms Mitchell said: "Our fundraising campaign will continue and the designs for the building are rapidly taking shape.

"As the last major concert hall in Britain to be updated, we are now a step closer to giving the people of Bristol and the South West a concert hall of which they can be proud."

She said the HLF funding would particularly support the restoration of the Grade II listed Lantern Building, which will have fully accessible facilities and spaces for school exhibitions and creative projects.

The aims of the redevelopment include an "inclusive music education programme" and the creation of a "world class entertainment venue".

It is hoped work will begin next year and be completed by 2019/20.