Revised plans have been submitted to restore one of Kendal's most important historic buildings.

Abbott Hall, a Grade 1 listed building built between 1759 and 1762, has been synonymous with Kendal for over two and a half centuries, before falling into disrepair, and was threatened with demolition during the 1950s and 1960s until a charitable trust, which become Lakeland Arts, came together to save the building and convert it into a renowned tourist attraction housing an art gallery and the Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry.

Following the challenges of the pandemic, Lakeland Arts reviewed the proposals for the capital redevelopment of Abbot Hall in early 2021.

Together with Arts Council England, they mutually agreed the withdrawal of the original capital award of £4.6m, and so Lakeland Arts have submitted plans for stage one of a phased refurbishment, which means that the planned art gallery reopening for its 60th birthday in summer 2022 can still happen.

Rhian Harris, chief executive of Lakeland Arts explained: "We remain absolutely committed to the redevelopment of Abbot Hall, and the first phase consists of essential works, really to get the building open again, and to make it safe.

"This includes electrics, some extra flood resilience, some necessary decoration and some new flooring, but the priority really is getting the building open to the public."

The planned first phase of refurbishment will take place in collaboration between Lakeland Arts and South Lakeland District Council, which own the building, and will involve essential joinery work to exterior windows, doors and roof eaves, as well as raising the nearside wall of Blind Beck to provide extra flood defence.

The art gallery houses an outstanding permanent collection of over 6,500 works including work by George Romney and 19th century watercolours by artists such as JMW Turner and John Ruskin, and protecting these pieces is included in the submitted plans.

The windows in many of the galleries in which the paintings are housed had previously been sealed shut to preserve the works, leading to poor ventilation, lighting and outside aspect, but the plans propose to open up these windows when appropriate and apply solar reflective film to the glass to protect the artwork.

The plan emphasises that all original features will remain and all work will be carried in sympathy with Abbot Hall being Grade 1 Listed.

While the plan is for a summer 2002 reopening for the art gallery, Rhian Harris is also looking to future phases of redeveloping the building.

"These will be based on what we learn during phase one, but also on community consultation – to find out what people of all ages want from Abbot Hall."