Historic Royal Palaces' (HRP) plans for a major £12m scheme to improve visitor facilities at London's Kensington Palace have received a £1m funding boost from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Work on the 'Welcome to Kensington - a palace for everyone' project is set to get underway in June 2010 to transform the 17th century property into an educational and inspirational visitor experience, as well as opening it up to a wider audience. The scheme will include the creation of new public gardens to link the palace with a neighbouring park, a new visitor entrance leading from the Broad Walk and the Round Pond to establish an outdoor space for public use, and improved access.

An inner central 'hub' is also included in the proposals to give visitors a feel of what the palace has to offer inside, as well as new educational and community facilities and clearer routes and signage. The project is being financed by HRP with the support of donors, trusts, sponsors and charitable foundations, with £8m already secured. A campaign to raise the remaining £4m over the next two years is now underway.

Sir Trevor McDonald, HRP trustee, said: "This ambitious initiative that will enable many more people to explore this palace of extraordinary history; opening its doors, its rooms, its memories, its stories, its gardens and its collections to the widest possible audience." Wesley Kerr, chair of the HLF committee for London, added: "New generations will be able to enjoy and learn from the palace, through greatly enhanced access and educational programmes, the reuniting of the Palace with the magnificent vistas from and to central London, and the retelling of so many great stories."

Wesley Kerr, chair of the HLF committee for London (left) with Sir Trevor McDonald, HRP trustee (right)