PLANS are to be discussed for a major £438,000 overhaul at Clacton’s Grade-II listed town hall.

Tendring Council’s planning committee will consider proposals for alterations to the 1930s building in Station Road at its meeting on Tuesday.

The application has been put forward by the council as part of its £1million modernisation programme.

Work began on Clacton Town Hall in 1929 and the building was opened by Prince Arthur of Connaught in 1931. Over the years the building has been altered and part of the new works will be to reverse some of those changes.

A number of areas of internal partitioning will be removed to make larger, more open offices. In addition, the former council chamber, which is used as the housing reception, will be restored to make a new meeting room.

No changes to the outside of the building are planned.

Carlo Guglielmi, deputy leader, said it would be good to see the town hall return to a more original internal design.

“The council has invested in technology in order to become more efficient,” he said.

“The fruits of these investments are ripening and we now need to finish the works to the buildings so they match the positive and flexible engagement of our staff.

“The improvement of offices and services combined with a strong commitment to Clacton town centre are a real win-win scenario.”

The modernisation project aims to use technology to improve services and to be more efficient. The programme will also see the redundant offices at Westleigh House, in Carnarvon Road, make way for more town centre parking and a move out of the Weeley site in late 2019.

An initial phase of works at the council’s Pier Avenue offices is nearing completion and work on the town hall is scheduled to begin in early 2019.