Southwark Council, which closed the Livesey Museum for Children last year, has endorsed a proposal from Theatre Peckham to convert the museum building into dance studios, rehearsal spaces and a conservatory.
This plan, and two other schemes submitted at a council meeting late last year, will be considered by the Charity Commission.
Southwark Council owns the building in trust, the terms of which mean that the building cannot be sold or leased without consent from the commission.
Lewis Robinson, executive member for culture, leisure and sport at Southwark Council, said: "Theatre Peckham has been working in the area for over 20 years, offering high-quality arts and education training for young people in Southwark. That is why we are confident that its proposal for the Livesey… offers a brilliant vision for the future."
The campaign group, Friends of the Livesey Museum for Children, which is partnered by the Novas Scarman Group (NSG), a charitable trust, proposed plans to reopen the institution as a free children's museum and cultural centre.
Bridget McKenzie, a founding member of the campaign group, said: "The Friends' proposal is much more viable, given the financial commitment of NSG to underwrite it and invest in the building. It can claim much greater local support."
Both the Friends group and Southwark Council believe that their plans are closest to the intention of George Livesey, who gave the building to the borough in 1890. "It is in keeping with his bequest that the building be used as a free learning resource open to the public," said McKenzie.
But Southwark Council maintains that Theatre Peckham's vision is for "the educational benefit of the residents of the old borough of Camberwell".
The third option discussed at the council meeting was to dispose of the building and ringfence the proceeds for the provision of public services.
This plan, and two other schemes submitted at a council meeting late last year, will be considered by the Charity Commission.
Southwark Council owns the building in trust, the terms of which mean that the building cannot be sold or leased without consent from the commission.
Lewis Robinson, executive member for culture, leisure and sport at Southwark Council, said: "Theatre Peckham has been working in the area for over 20 years, offering high-quality arts and education training for young people in Southwark. That is why we are confident that its proposal for the Livesey… offers a brilliant vision for the future."
The campaign group, Friends of the Livesey Museum for Children, which is partnered by the Novas Scarman Group (NSG), a charitable trust, proposed plans to reopen the institution as a free children's museum and cultural centre.
Bridget McKenzie, a founding member of the campaign group, said: "The Friends' proposal is much more viable, given the financial commitment of NSG to underwrite it and invest in the building. It can claim much greater local support."
Both the Friends group and Southwark Council believe that their plans are closest to the intention of George Livesey, who gave the building to the borough in 1890. "It is in keeping with his bequest that the building be used as a free learning resource open to the public," said McKenzie.
But Southwark Council maintains that Theatre Peckham's vision is for "the educational benefit of the residents of the old borough of Camberwell".
The third option discussed at the council meeting was to dispose of the building and ringfence the proceeds for the provision of public services.