Birmingham Town Hall was constructed in the early 1830’s of Anglesey ‘marble’, a limestone recommended by J.A. Hansom, the building’s architect, for its durability. The stone has not stood the test of time and having served the people of Birmingham for over one hundred and fifty years, in 1996 the Grade I listed Town Hall was closed, its fabric considered too dangerous to permit public access. In Autumn 1999 Birmingham City Council appointed Rodney Melville and Partners as consultant conservation architects to advise upon the building’s repair. The practice also prepared a Conservation Plan, outlining the building’s history, its general significances and the merits of its various parts. Against this information the Plan considered the threats to the building’s significances and provided advice on conservation issues and guidelines for the building’s future repair, alteration, use and management. The Conservation Plan was used as a core document in the City Council’s bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the building’s repair and adaption to new use. The Heritage Lottery Fund initially awarded £10 million to the scheme and a contract of enabling works, directed by the Practice, was completed. A programme of repairs and works necessary to enable the Town Hall to meet the 21st century needs of Birmingham’s population has since been undertaken with the Practice serving as Architects for the works to the external fabric and consultants for works to the historic interiors. The overall contract value was approximately £35 million.