PETERSFIELD Town Council Public Halls Committee is to hear a £200,000 project to enlarge the council chamber in the Town Hall will incur at least £30,000 of architect and associated fees.

The committee will hear at its meeting on Monday (January 10) at 6.30pm the enlarged chamber with better ventilation is needed so face-to-face meetings can resume post-Covid.

Plans for the proposal by Foster Wilson Architects will see the council chamber enlarged into the current foyer, and make the chamber ‘fit for purpose’ for council meetings and other events.

It is expected funding for the work will come from developer contributions.

However, members will hear the £200,000 that could be available may not be enough to cover the cost of the proposed works, says the architects’ report.

A report recommends they bear in mind there may be a need for an asbestos survey, and any remedial works it recommends, and the enlargement could result in unforeseen work on the Town Hall of Heath Road.