HEREFORDSHIRE Council is a step closer to revamping the city centre museum and creating a roof terrace overlooking the cathedral.

It comes after the cabinet agreed to invest £8.5 million for the complete refurbishment of Hereford Museum and Art Gallery (HMAG) in Broad Street.

The Grade II-listed Victorian building on Broad Street is due to become the “Marches Experience”, the centrepiece of a multi-million-pound programme of improvements to the city over the coming years.

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A feasibility report prepared for Herefordshire Council by a local architecture practice sets out a range of design options for the project, each featuring a rooftop garden in some form.

“A key feature of the proposed project is a culture trail on the roof of the historic building offering views over the city,” it says – while prioritising pedestrians in front of the building “could re-establish Broad Street as a hub of cultural activity”.

The new attraction would become “a national destination” drawing visitors into the city centre and showcasing the county’s heritage collections such as the Viking-era Herefordshire Hoard, with the means to become economically self-sufficient, the report says.

During the meeting on Wednesday (June 29), the cabinet also agreed to spend £500,000 to relocate Hereford Library, within the same Broad Street building, to a renovated Maylord Shopping Centre.

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The funding, which is subject to council decision, will combine with a £8 million bid to Stronger Towns, and a £5 million bid to an alternative fund bringing the total cost of the museum refurbishment to £18 million and the library relocation and renovation to £3.5 million.

A redeveloped Broad Street museum will support the creation of a world-class, energy-efficient, cultural and visitor experience at the heart of Hereford, the council said.

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As well as other treasures, it would be an ideal place in which to showcase the Herefordshire Hoard, which the council is campaigning to bring home for the people of Herefordshire.

The new Library and Learning Resource Centre (LLRC) at Maylord Shopping Centre will also provide rentable space for a range of services and organisations, including the council’s adult learning services and health and wellbeing clinics.

Councillor Gemma Davies, cabinet member for commissioning, procurement and assets, said: “I’m delighted cabinet members reached agreement on these two significant proposals for Herefordshire.

"Our investment in cultural services is so important to support local people and adds exciting destinations and support for both residents and tourists.

"There’s plenty of evidence showing cultural and creative centres attract visitors who go on to spend time in hotels, restaurants and other local venues and we expect the new museum to attract around £2.5 million to the local economy every year.

"These projects represent good value for money for the people of Herefordshire and put culture at the very heart of our city’s future.”