Future plans to be unveiled at Tamworth Assembly Rooms

Exciting new plans for the future of Tamworth Assembly Rooms are to be unveiled at a series of events next month – and members of the public are being invited to look at the designs and give their views.

Three roadshows are being held where visitors can look at the ambitious designs for the redevelopment and improvement of Tamworth Assembly Rooms, as well as meeting the design team behind them.

In 2012, ambitious plans to redevelop and improve Tamworth Assembly Rooms were unveiled.

The plans received initial backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with almost £90,000 of development funding, with a further grant application for almost £1 million expected to be submitted later this year. The project will also require additional external funding to deliver all of the desired improvements.

The project aims to modernise and improve the Assembly Rooms, while preserving its historic character and heritage. In addition to the capital works, an archive charting the development of the building over the past 125 years, new interpretation and guided tours, and lots of exciting opportunities for volunteers and people of all ages will be developed.

The development project is now building momentum, following the appointment of an award-winning design team in post. Lichfield-based Greenwood Projects are project managing the development, alongside architects Rodney Melville and Partners, whose previous works include Birmingham Town Hall.

The roadshow events are being held to showcase the design ideas and to give the public the opportunity to put forward their comments and find out more about the exciting project.

The first of the three drop-in sessions is being held at Tamworth Assembly Rooms on Wednesday March 12 from 2pm to 8pm.

Further sessions are being held at the Wilnecote Community Café at the Youth Centre in New Road on Tuesday March 18 and at the Belgrave Community Café at Tamworth Community Fire Station, Marlborough Way, on Thursday March 20. Both events run from 3pm-5pm.

A session to update all members of the council on the progress of the Cultural Quarter project and the Assembly Rooms development is also being held at March 6.

Roadshow events showcasing the redevelopment of Tamworth Assembly Rooms last year attracted more than 300 visitors, and it is hoped that this year’s events will prove even more popular.

Cllr Steve Claymore, Cabinet member for Economic Development, said: “These are very exciting plans for the future of Tamworth Assembly Rooms, and I would encourage anyone with an interest in the building or the arts in the town to come along and have a look at the plans.”

Tamworth Assembly Rooms – which was built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s golden Jubilee and paid for by public subscription – will be celebrating its 125th anniversary on October 8 2014.