Monmouthshire County Council is recruiting an architect to transform its Grade II-listed Abergavenny Town Hall into a new community hub.

The process, which has been advertised in the Architects’ Journal offers the opportunity the winning team the chance to deliver a new library, one stop shop and community learning space inside the 1871 landmark which currently hosts a market, theatre and the town council.

The project is part of a wider initiative by the local authority which has delivered new integrated community hubs in nearby Cheston, Caldicot, Monmouth and Usk. The latest project will bring together facilities currently spread across Abergavenny in a prominent central location.

In the brief given by Debra Hill-Howells of MCC, the Abergavenny hub is the last to be delivered and the process to convert the Grade II-listed building ‘presents significant challenges’ as it occupies a prominent position in the town and is used by a number of competing and occasionally conflicting users.

“Initial design work has been undertaken and has been well received, the principles of which involve the creation of a mezzanine at first floor level and a large open plan shared space to accommodate a new hub. The proposal also included the provision of a new lift and the re-alignment of users to improve operational efficiency,” says the council’s brief.

Abergavenny Town Hall was designed by Wilson and Willcox of Bath in 1871 and features an iconic clock tower which dominates the local skyline. The Early French Gothic-style building – which features a market hall, theatre and council offices – was listed in 1971.

The hub project will create a new mezzanine at first floor level and a large open plan shared space to accommodate the new hub. The scheme – which has been designed by the council’s in-house principal designer Robert Dennis – includes the delivery of a new public lift.

According to the Architects’ Journal. the winning team will develop the scheme from RIBA Stage 3 through to completion. The first stage will involve completing a public consultation and drawing up a ‘finalised, costed and agreed’ proposal which includes sustainability, maintenance and operating strategies.

Last month MCC launched a separate search for a team to design a £120,000 events pavilion in Abergavenny Castle.