BRADFORD City Hall could soon be opened to the public on a permanent basis under ambitious new plans.

It has already been announced that the Grade 1 listed building is to house the Rugby League Museum, due to be open in time for the 2021 World Cup.

But now it has been revealed that Bradford Council is also planning to open City Hall up further, and has spent £90,000 developing a plan to get enough Lottery funding to make the scheme a reality.

The council expects to hear from the Heritage Lottery Fund later this year to find out if the funding bid has been successful.

Despite being arguably Bradford’s grandest building, the most impressive areas of City Hall are only open for the public to visit on annual Heritage Open Days and select events.

Some of the hall’s corridors are lined with treasures such as the chains and maces of former lord mayors and gifts given to the city from around the world. There are also items such as a scale model of the building and the Bradford Fire memorial bell.

The Rugby League Museum, which Bradford won a competition to host, will be opened on the building’s ground floor, and council leader Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe said opening the museum was the “absolute priority” in the council’s City Hall plans.

But she said the council was hoping to take the opportunity to further open City Hall to display Bradford’s history, similar to how Cliffe Castle Museum has a section displaying the history of Keighley.

However, Cllr Hinchcliffe added that the plans would be dependent on how much funding the council was able to secure.

The plans are being supported by numerous groups, including Bradford Police Museum, already based in City Hall, and the Bradford Civic Society.

Civic Society chair Si Cunningham told the Telegraph & Argus: “City Hall is such a great space, and every corridor, nook and cranny is so full of history.

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“It’s the story of Bradford in bricks and mortar, and I always enjoy having a wander around and learning a few things about our city.

“I think it’s a nice idea to open the building up a bit more, and the proposals seem to be quite ambitious while being respectful of its important municipal function.

“I’ve said before that I’d like to see a proper city museum established in central Bradford, and I think these plans will go some way to achieve that.

“I wish the council all the best with their bid, and the Society will certainly do everything it can to support the enhancement of this very special civic space.”