Council abandons £2.5m HLF bid to modernise Bromley Museum
Bromley says it cannot commit to 25-year funding contract
The London Borough of Bromley has abandoned plans to modernise the Bromley Museum in Orpington because it cannot commit to a funding contract set by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Bromley Museum, which has a 20,000-strong collection, is housed in the medieval Grade II listed building The Priory located in Orpington.
In 2012, Bromley Museum was awarded development grant funding of £186,300 from the HLF for the museum refurbishment project, which is called Priory Revisited.
Project objectives included enlarging the exhibition areas, improving accessibility and creating better facilities for the museum’s education department. The Cambridge-based architects Caroe Architecture won the competition to transform the museum.
In June, the borough requested a further grant of £2.5m in its second round application to the HLF. But last month, the council decided to withdraw its HLF application.
“The council has consulted interested parties and residents throughout the process about the plans and different funding options and has made it clear that any decision would also need to be taken within the financial context that the council is operating in,” said a Bromley Council spokeswoman.
“We were unable to make a significant 25-year commitment at a time of unprecedented financial pressures. The council remains committed to protecting heritage across the borough and there are no proposals to close the museum, and we are continuing to investigate all forms of funding to support future operations.”
The move follows a public consultation which was launched earlier this year.
Bromley Museum, which has a 20,000-strong collection, is housed in the medieval Grade II listed building The Priory located in Orpington.
In 2012, Bromley Museum was awarded development grant funding of £186,300 from the HLF for the museum refurbishment project, which is called Priory Revisited.
Project objectives included enlarging the exhibition areas, improving accessibility and creating better facilities for the museum’s education department. The Cambridge-based architects Caroe Architecture won the competition to transform the museum.
In June, the borough requested a further grant of £2.5m in its second round application to the HLF. But last month, the council decided to withdraw its HLF application.
“The council has consulted interested parties and residents throughout the process about the plans and different funding options and has made it clear that any decision would also need to be taken within the financial context that the council is operating in,” said a Bromley Council spokeswoman.
“We were unable to make a significant 25-year commitment at a time of unprecedented financial pressures. The council remains committed to protecting heritage across the borough and there are no proposals to close the museum, and we are continuing to investigate all forms of funding to support future operations.”
The move follows a public consultation which was launched earlier this year.