The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust is to take control of its headquarters as it prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
At a meeting of Wiltshire Council's cabinet last week, councillors voted to transfer control of the building at Devizes Wharf to the trust on a 125-year lease.
The trust - which has been based in the former warehouse for over 40 years - will pay a peppercorn rent for the building.
It says the asset transfer gives it the certainty to carry out vital repairs to its HQ, which houses a museum and café as well as the trust's offices.
It says the transfer will allow them to bid for external funding for improvements, consolidate archives from their Caen Hill site and enhance the museum, develop the building for exhibitions, community events, and café services, and provide improved facilities for boaters, walkers, and residents.
Cllr Helen Belcher, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for economic development, regeneration and assets, said: “As stated in Our Wiltshire Plan, we want to take a community approach to what we do and this is an agreement that suits all parties and should provide positive outcomes for Wiltshire residents.
"This provides certainty for the Trust, and give them the flexibility to invest, grow and ultimately enhance the offer of the building and ensure it continues to be a valuable part of the community for many years to come.”
The vice-chair of Devizes Area Board, Tamara Reay (Conservative, Devizes Rural West), told the meeting: "This is good news for Devizes.
"Devizes has great plans and much of that is now coming to fruition. I'm pleased that we've finally got this over the line."
Read more
Update on plans for lots of homes at ex-hospital site near canal
Council grant helps village shop hit fundraising target
New supermarket plans unveiled for town
The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust was responsible for restoring the 87-mile-long canal, built to transport goods between Bath and Reading, and onwards to London on the River Thames.
Constructed between 1794 and 1810, the canal fell into disuse following the opening of the Great Western Railway in 1841.
Restoration began in the 1960s, and Queen Elizabeth II formally reopened the canal in 1990.
The trust's headquarters is not far from the iconic flight of 16 locks at Caen Hill, which takes six hours to navigate.
Share