Work to transform St Albans’ Town Hall into a museum and gallery has received a huge boost with the announcement of a substantial grant.

The project has received a Heritage Lottery Fund development grant of £282,000 and will be used to develop the first stages of the project in the grade 2 listed building.

The announcement means St Albans City Council can begin to make plans for the new home of the Museum of St Albans, which is currently based in Hatfield Road.

This work will also help the council progress to a second-round application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a further £2.5m towards the cost of refurbishing the Town Hall.

The total project cost is estimated to be £6.75m. The balance is being provided by the council and fundraising by the St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust.

The project aims to showcase St Albans’ unique medieval heritage and offer space for the University of Hertfordshire’s contemporary art gallery.

The St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust is working with the council and the University of Hertfordshire to take the project forward.

In the New Year, the trust is set to launch a campaign to raise funds to help develop the new museum and gallery.

Mike Gray, Chair of The St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust, said: "The development grant from the HLF is an amazing boost to our plans to create a new home for the Museum of St Albans.

"It will place it in the hub of the city. We will now work closely with our partners, including the Council and the University of Hertfordshire, to take forward fundraising for this project. The funds we raise for this fantastic scheme will transform an historic landmark building into an inspirational museum and gallery for the community."

The project aims to showcase St Albans’ unique medieval heritage and offer space for the University of Hertfordshire’s contemporary art gallery.

Councillor Annie Brewster, mayor of St Albans, said: "This is the most exciting opportunity for St Albans, a grand central site that will showcase what we are about, then and now. Businesses and retailers will benefit from the improved image of the Town Hall. I see no reason why we should not be attracting new and exciting exhibitions of the quality of Damien Hirst or David Hockney for example in the near future. Watch out for some creative fundraising ideas which I hope schools, businesses, retailers and individuals can get involved with. It will be for us all."