PLANS to more than double the size of a town’s museum to include a new gallery, lecture theatre and bigger cafe have moved a step closer.

Cherwell District Council has granted outline planning permission to a scheme that would see the Banbury Museum expand by 2,815 sq m.

A third storey will be added on top of the current exhibition space to create the lecture theatre while the north-eastern side of the existing building will be extended.

An existing cafe, which fronts on to the Oxford Canal, will get bigger and office, storage and toilet facilities will all be added.

The project is predicted to cost £5million and the museum estimates it will take three to five years to complete.

John Donaldson, the district council's lead member for housing and regeneration, said: “This is another important step forward for Banbury’s regeneration.

“The extension and improvement of Banbury Museum would be a big boost to the town’s cultural offering and supports Cherwell council’s wider ambitions for the area surrounding the Oxford Canal.

“We have long supported Banbury Museum, and understand that the proposed changes will allow larger and more important exhibitions to come to Banbury.

“As well as supporting the improvements we are expecting elsewhere along the canal, I expect the new exhibition space will further boost tourism and the economy.”

Councillors unanimously backed the plan at a meeting last week and more detailed proposals will now be drawn up for approval at a later date.

Oxfordshire County Council had objected to the scheme because no staff or visitor parking was provided.

Officers said this insufficient parking could lead to queues and congestion on the roads surrounding the museum.

But the district council felt as the museum is in the town centre, visitors will probably be making trips already and can use existing car parks.

A recent assessment found that there was already ‘adequate’ car parking spaces in the town.

The revamp of the existing exhibitions gallery, the first phase of the project, will be completed by November.

Bob Langton, the chairman of the Banbury Museum Trust, said the extension will help the museum attract visitors from the surrounding area.