Ulverston Town Hall to be converted to flats

Ulverston Town Hall and its associated buildings are to be handed to a housing association for conversion into affordable homes after South Lakeland Council agreed to give up the buildings for a “nominal” sum.

The buildings were declared as surplus to requirements by the council in August 2014, based on the understanding that the site would be redeveloped as affordable housing.

The council has agreed to sell the site to South Lakes Housing for “less than best consideration”, and although the exact figure has not been disclosed, it has been described as “nominal” by South Lakeland.

South Lakeland had considered offering the building for sale on the open market, but was discounted due to the council’s plan to maximise the delivery of new affordable homes in the borough through to 2025.

To support the delivery of the project, the council will invest nearly £500,000 in the conversion of the town hall, which it described as “not commercially viable” without grant funding.

South Lakeland council agreed to dispose of the buildings in 2014

Planning permission was granted for the project late last year, and the housing association now plans to build 17 affordable housing units within the town hall and its annexe, which will be extensively remodelled as part of the plans.

The proposals for the site between Queen Street, Benson Street and Theatre Street have been designed by John Coward Architects.

South Lakeland council is expected to sign off the disposal of the town hall at a cabinet meeting today.