A CITY museum has been awarded a grant of almost £1.5m for restoration work.

Chelmsford Museum, which is run by the city council, is to be awarded the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

This cash will contribute two thirds of the costs of the refurbishment of the old Oaklands House, and other parts of the museum.

The project has secured £1,440,800 and this funding is critical in enabling Chelmsford City Council to create a much-improved experience for museum visitors.

The work is set to begin next year and is due to be completed by early 2019.

Following an extensive consultation, new galleries and activities are planned.

These include a historical display of Chelmsford and an integrated cafe within the old house for museum and park visitors to enjoy their refreshments while overlooking the park and gardens.

The city council has also released a rough guide of how the money is set to be divided up, but this could be subject to change.

Redisplay and conservation work is set to cost £900,000, with the same amount being set aside for structural and building improvement works.

Storage areas and park improvements are set to cost £100,000, £70,000 will be spent on events and activities, and website improvement, additional staff and training will cost about £170,000.

Julia Jeapes, councillor for leisure, said: “This is fantastic news.

“The city council has already invested nearly £5 million in the museum development, but we always knew that the older galleries, such as archaeology, natural history and the decorative arts, would need redisplaying.

“The Victorian building, which is Grade II listed, also needs money spent on its infrastructure, on things such as heating and lighting.”

Museum Manager Nick Wickenden added: “Many of our visitors and people using Oaklands Park have asked us ever since we opened the extension where the cafe is!

“With National Lottery support, we hope that we can provide a superb new cafe facility.

“This will benefit museum visitors and the whole of our local community, at no extra ongoing cost to the council, ensuring the museum will become an even greater asset for the city.

“Just to reassure visitors, the popular living honey-bee observation hive will remain.”

For more information about Chelmsford Museum, see www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museum