The Victorian Society has objected “in the strongest possible terms” to a £10.7m restoration of Preston’s grade I-listed Harris museum proposed by Manchester practice Buttress.

Plans to upgrade and improve accessibility at the Greek revival edifice, built in 1883 and designed by local architect and former Preston mayor James Hibbert, were given approval by the council last week.

The city-centre museum, which received 380,000 visitors in 2019, serves as a community hub as well as a learning centre. Its collections include paintings, textiles, sculpture, photography, historic books and digital art, many of which are of international significance.

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