A landmark building in Alton is set for a £450,000 makeover as a controversial redevelopment has been approved.

The removal of an historic cart wall and the installation of a glazed front door are among the changes planned for the Allen Gallery.

A new café, courtyard, study area and flexible community space will be created as plans to update and reconfigure the Church Street attraction were recently approved by EHDC’s planning committee.

Galleries which house the attraction’s impressive array of ceramics and its “unique” collections will also be refurbished with a host of external and internal alternations also planned.

While they agreed work is needed to maintain the building’s longevity, members had questions about the scale and modernity of the proposals at the Grade-II listed 16th and 18th century landmark.

The creation of new internal toilets and additional storage rooms will reduce space while Cllr Roger Mullenger suggested the wall’s removal and new double glazing would “seriously compromise” the building. Objector Julia Mitchell also raised concerns about the proposals for the “much-loved asset” and heritage building.

She said: “While the grants are welcome they go well beyond the idea of repair – they will harm the fabric of the building and the ability to retain its use for the benefit of the community.”

The heritage planning officer admitted the wall’s removal would create an “element of harm” but insisted the benefits of the redevelopment outweighed those concerns, with HCC unable to speak at the meeting because of technical issues.