Birmingham City Council has announced a £10m revamp of the historic Aston Hall and Park.

The attraction has now closed for restoration and improvement work, which is due to be completed by August 2008.

The stables and courtyard will house a new reception area with a café, shop and outside picnic area as well as two community meeting rooms and a new exhibition space. Outside, the archaeological remains of the former ice house will be uncovered and the traditional gardens restored.

The hall itself will also be improved with new signage and interpretation, improved access for visitors with disabilities and upgraded heating and lighting as well as a new educational center created. New displays will include an exhibition exploring the multicultural influences on furniture and other decorative designs, the redecoration and display of key rooms, as well as the opening two new rooms – the Orange Chamber and its Dressing Room – to the public for the first time.

The park will receive new signage, lighting, benches and planting and existing footpaths will be resurfaced.

Finally, the sporting facilities throughout the park will be completely overhauled with a new pavilion comprising changing rooms, a kitchen and a community room. The existing cricket pitch will be refurbished and three new grass football pitches (adult, junior and little league), a new floodlit artificial turf pitch and a new children’s play area will be constructed.

Cllr Ray Hassall, cabinet member for leisure sport and culture, said: “This is a major investment programme into one of Birmingham City Council’s major attractions. Community involvement is the focus of this restoration programme, so there will be periodic open days to give the public an opportunity to look behind the scenes and see the progress being made.”

Funding came from the council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Aston Pride New Deal for Communities, Barclays Spaces for Sport, the DCMS/Wolfson Museums Improvement Fund and Renaissance in the Regions. Details: www.birmingham.gov.uk