The session will be held in the Council Chamber at the Municipal Building from 5:30pm to 7pm Thursday, January 8 and is billed as an open forum to make residents’ voices heard on plans for the library, art gallery and associated public services. Free light refreshments will be available, with children’s activities provided to help parents attend.
The consultation forms part of a broader, multi‑phase programme led by Falmouth Town Council to restore and re‑imagine the Grade II‑listed Passmore Edwards Building, which has housed the town’s library, art gallery and civic rooms since the late nineteenth century.
Recent surveys have identified pressing repairs and systems upgrades to make the building fit for the future, and the council is commissioning professional studies to guide a major refurbishment that balances heritage conservation with modern community needs.
Early groundwork has been supported through the Good Growth Shared Prosperity Fund’s Community Capacity Fund, which is paying for an Enhanced Bat and Barn Owl Assessment and a Building Decarbonisation Plan.
Alongside essential fabric repairs, the headline ambition is a cultural transformation of the interior. The Council has sought a professional design team to lead a multi‑million‑pound upgrade, setting out a vision to reorganise galleries, enhance the visitor experience, and create a two‑storey cultural hub.
External works have reached RIBA Stage 3 with both listed building consent and planning permission in place. Internal works will be developed through early RIBA stages to support future funding submissions.
Heritage is central to the discussion. Opened in 1896 and designed by William Henry Tressider in the Italianate style, the Municipal Buildings are officially listed as “Falmouth Art Gallery and Library; Passmore Edwards Free Library”.
Members of the public can attend the consultation at the Council Chamber, Municipal Building, The Moor, where they can view proposals, ask questions and share feedback.