Plans for Warminster Town Council to relocate its offices to the Assembly Rooms following a £800,000 refurbishment project moved a step closer this week.

At a full town council meeting at Dewey House on Monday, councillors approved plans by architects BTA for the improvements, as well as approving an application for a loan.

The town council will borrow £800,000 from the Public Works Loan Board, which will be paid back over a 25 year term fixed at a rate of 4.51 per cent.

At the meeting, town clerk Heather Abernethie warned councillors that there could be potential delays with regards to the application for the loan because of the forthcoming general election and the fact the project had to be put out to tender across the south west, BTA Architects can now appoint a structural engineer and approve their proposed appointment of Bath company Nixey Powell as the quantity surveyor and construction, design and management co-ordinator.

Cllr Paul Batchelor was the only councillor to vote against the plans.

He said: “We already have a community centre but it’s whether we spend £800,000 on refurbishing it. Maybe we should have a new purpose-built building.

“I don’t think we can afford this refurbishment at this time.”

The refurbishment will create a hall for hire, a town council chamber, council offices, coffee shop and licensed bars.

Mayor Tony Nicklin believes the refurbishment will rejuvenate the building, which is currently losing about £60,000 a year.

The building is likely to be closed for six months while work takes place and councillors agreed that no bookings should be taken after May 1. A planning application for the work has already been submitted.