BRADFORD'S historic St George's Hall is to close for a year for a major multi-million pound renovation.

The £3.2 million project, part of which is dependent on Lottery funding, will see the 1850s building's sandstone exterior restored, as well as a re-design of the front-of-house and bar areas, removing partitions added in the 1980s.

Other major changes include glazing the colonnade on Bridge Street to provide a new draft lobby and reinstating three original entrance doors from Hall Ings, as well as the addition of a new lift.

The famous venue will close from the end of this month to allow the work to start.

So far Bradford Council, which runs what was the country's first purpose-built concert hall, has committed £1.2m to the scheme, covering essential repairs to the listed building such as work to the roof, windows, electrics and heating system.

A further £500,000 is expected to be approved at a meeting next week to renew stone work on the building, which is Britain's oldest purpose-built concert hall.

But a decision on a £1.5m bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund is expected in a fortnight, which if successful would allow the full renovation scheme to go ahead.

In addition, theatre bosses are hoping for a further £4m from the Council's budget to allow the auditorium to be modernised, a bid which is currently being assessed. If this is successful the work could be carried out during the year-long closure.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's executive member for culture, said: "We've worked hard with the Heritage Lottery Fund to demonstrate that its investment is needed to make the venue a success.

"If our bid is successful then we can look forward to a great-looking building, with an enhanced visitor experience which will make it fit for the future and potentially bring in bigger audiences."

A planning application has been lodged, seeking consent for some of the changes.

This says the works would "re-invigorate this great hall", while the improved access arrangements would "welcome the city to a larger, more open and inviting foyer".

In addition to the renovation and refurbishment work, the project would also involve the creation of a permanent archive display featuring key events in the concert hall's past.

This would include the official opening of the venue by Queen Victoria in 1853, to Harry Houdini's 1905 performance there, and big rock concerts of the 1970s and 1980s when acts such as Genesis, Queen, Motorhead and David Bowie performed there.

Scaffolding has been in place at the concert hall since June last year. It was installed to allow the building to be thoroughly surveyed and inspected ahead of the planned refurbishment and repair work.

The Lockwood and Mawson designed building was built from Ashlar sandstone from quarries near Leeds in a late classical temple style based on the Birmingham Guildhall.

It was granted listed building status in 1963 at grade II* level, placing it within the top few per cent of the nation's historic buildings.

Following a fire in the 1980s, the hall was closed for a £2m refurbishment which saw the addition of the ramped access on Bridge Street and the main entrance relocating from Hall Ings.

The ornate stone staircase was also removed from the Hall Ings entrance and a new mezzanine floor was added to increase space.