BROMLEY Council is set to apply to English Heritage for a grant for a planned £3m improvement of the borough’s museum.

Councillors have decided to ask for up to £2.7m towards the cost of renovating The Priory building in Orpington, which houses Bromley Museum, and the vacant library building next door.

The museum will be extended to the former library, and planned new features include an arts and heritage centre, cafe, atrium, and re-opening the courtyard at the front of the building.

Councillors decided to go ahead with the grant bid during a meeting on Wednesday, after hearing from Colin Brand, the assistant director for culture.

He said he expects the expansion to increase the number of annual visitors from 25,000 to between 75,000 and 100,000.