IT HAS been described as looking more like a doctors’ surgery than an award-winning museum.

But a multi-multi-pound project to transform the St Barbe complex in Lymington is set to start later this year after securing a £1.78 million lottery grant.

The town centre attraction is planning to upgrade its art gallery, provide visitors with an improved café and install a new-look entrance.

As reported in the Daily Echo the scheme includes a “wavy wall” facade that aims to reflect the building’s coastal location.

St Barbe is also intending to create a new public archive that will give people access to local history collections for the first time.

The eagerly-awaited work is set to cost about £2.3 million, with £545,000 of the cash coming from a variety of sources including local authorities and charitable trusts.

Museum supporters include Dire Straits guitarist John Illsley, 66, who lives in the New Forest and has highlighted the need to improve the complex.

Welcoming confirmation of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant David Rule, chairman of trustees, said: “This is fantastic news not just for St Barbe but for the public, Lymington and the surrounding area.

“We will truly be able claim to be one of the major venues across the whole of the south coast.”

Stuart McLeod, head of HLF south east, added: “St Barbe tells the fascinating story of the heritage of Lymington and the New Forest coast.

“A HLF grant helped to establish the museum back in the 1990s and we’re delighted to be supporting this new chapter in its development. This National Lottery support will ensure that more people will discover everything St Barbe has to offer.”

The director, Mark Tomlinson, also welcomed the massive cash boost, he said: “The HLF grant will enable us to create a landmark cultural attraction for everyone to enjoy and this will support both the local community and economy well into the 2020s.

“Construction work should be underway by early autumn this year and we hope to re-open with a blockbuster exhibition in summer 2017.

“During the time we’re closed we will deliver an exciting programme of events and exhibitions across the area to showcase our local history collections.”

Plans to transform the old Victorian school were approved by the district council last year.

Don Mackenzie, representing St Barbe, told councillors: “Our tired and discouraging frontage, described by VisitEngland as looking like a doctors’ surgery, will be replaced with an attractive frontage that will enable us to generate enough visitor income to make us viable in the future.

“We think it’s a stunning scheme that will really enhance the street scene.”