A lift and accessible toilets could be put into one of West Norfolk’s most historic buildings as part of a new scheme.
They are part of a £2.5m project to try and bring King’s Lynn Custom House back into use and follows some public consultation.
The borough council will soon submit a planning application for listed building consent and will look to install a platform lift, an accessible toilet on the ground floor and upgraded and increased toilets on the second floor.
It says they are needed to ensure the building is welcoming and accessible to everyone.
The council also says it will also carefully clean and conserve the building, and the first floor inside will tell the story of the Custom House from its origins in 1683 and of King’s Lynn’s historic maritime past. The ground floor will have a small “café-lite” plus a room for local art exhibitions. Occasional public/private events could be hosted in the evenings and on closed days.
Simon Ring, the Borough Council’s Deputy Leader who is also responsible for Business, said: “We want to make more of the riverfront and turn it into an attractive destination, responding to community feedback to create new things for residents to see and do here, while protecting, respecting and preserving its unique heritage.
“Planning submission for the Custom House is an exciting and much-anticipated next step in our revitalisation of one of King’s Lynn’s truly iconic historic landmarks, which will bring so many benefits for the community alongside supporting tourism and hopefully further investment along the riverfront.
“Through taking a light-touch, minimal-intervention approach to these required core works, the building will meet the accessibility standards and support flexible use into the future, while conserving and protecting its special history for future generations to come.”
