THE executive director of the Maltings has expressed her confidence in fundraising plans for a revamp of the venue costing more than £1 million.
Joanna Ridout confirmed the scheme, which centres on creating a modern image for the building while retaining its character as a listed building, is on course.
The work will be phased, addressing each section of the venue, from restyling the entrance to modification of the performance rooms, including further soundproofing of the main hall.
This measure is designed to combat noise limitation problems which have affected the Maltings recently, resulting in its installation of sound limiters.
Following last year's failed lottery bid, Waverley Borough Council has pledged up to £750,000 in matched funds towards the project.
It has contributed £50,000 towards fundraising activities, which has enabled the Maltings to employ consultancy firm Kingston-Smith to focus its plans.
Feedback from the venue's users and stock-holders has been taken into consideration in designing the project.
Joanna Ridout said: "There have been all sorts of ideas for fundraising schemes, and a small fundraising group has been set up, which will be meeting on August 12, to finalise how we will go forward in the autumn."
"We will be making it a more modern building, and looking at its accessibility as there are currently a lot of steps and corridors. It is a process of breaking it down into development phases.
"As it is a grade two listed building, we cannot do anything with the outside walls. Part of its charm is in being an attractive old building which is part of Farnham's heritage."
She felt "positive about the venue's future" and believed fundraising targets could be met. In addition, she said Farnham Town Council had encouraged the Maltings to seek its assistance in getting planning permission and phasing of the scheme.
She believed phasing was vital to its success, for in gradually introducing changes, people "could see what they are buying in to".
The Maltings has applied for £35,000 from the town council towards creating the design plans before submitting a formal planning application.
The grant application was due to be decided at a meeting of the council's amenities committee yesterday (Thursday). It forms part of a total sum of £100,000 which the council has proposed towards the scheme.
Chairman of the amenities committee, Peter Hornsby, said: "The town council was almost unanimous in its support for providing £100,000 towards the refurbishment.
"I believe it is pretty central to Farnham, and if we had a list of things we wished to do in the town, the Maltings would be high on it."
He added it had been a "great shame" the venue had been unsuccessful in its lottery request, and said he would continue to view Maltings requests sympathetically.
Reinforcing its support for the revamp, a spokesperson for Waverley Borough Council said: "It has been strategically determined that Waverley will invest in arts for Farnham at the Maltings, making it the premier venue for the development of our arts agenda in the area."
A timetable for implementing the scheme has yet to be determined, and will be dependent on fundraising outcomes.