THE National Trust has unveiled its ambitious plans for a £17m upgrade to Bath Assembly Rooms as part of the charity’s new 10-year strategy.

The director general announced the grand plans to mark the National Trust’s 130th birthday, vowing to take unprecedented action to tackle the nature crisis, end unequal access to nature and cultural heritage and inspire millions more people to protect the world around them.

Plans for the £17 million transformation of Bath Assembly Rooms is part of a renewed effort by the charity to connect people with their national heritage through innovative conservation and development. Alongside other costly projects, including the £1.2 million roof restoration of a 420-year-old Great Barn in Lancashire, the National trust aims to ensure the preservation of irreplaceable historic buildings for future generations.

The upgrades in Somerset and Lancashire are just one of the National Trust’s goals for the next decade. The largest conservation charity in Europe has also promised to create 250,000 additional hectares of “nature-rich” landscape, attract 5 million new people to the charity and their work, forge a new partnership with the mental health charity Mind and launch an apprenticeships scheme for 130 young people across the country, amongst other ambitious plans.

Founded in the late 19th century to preserve the natural environment from the ravages of industrialisation, then adapting to save scores of country houses from dereliction in the wake of the World Wars, the charity is now ramping up its efforts to address the new national need: the climate and nature crises.

These plans follow the largest public consultation ever carried out by the National Trust, with more than 70,000 people – including members, volunteers and industry partners – sharing their views on the Trust’s work and direction. This consultation has provided the building blocks for the Trust’s new strategy, which will guide the charity’s work over the next ten years and beyond.

Director-general Hilary McGrady said: “For 130 years, the National Trust has responded to the crises and challenges of the time. Today, nature is declining before our eyes and climate change is threatening homes and habitats on a colossal scale. Meanwhile, millions of people can’t enjoy the benefits that green space and heritage bring. 

“So, we will ramp up our work to restore nature, both on our own land and beyond our boundaries. We’ll work to end inequality of access to green space and cultural heritage. And we will inspire millions more people to take action to protect the things we all need to thrive.

“Our charity’s founders were passionate campaigners who recognised the threats to our natural and cultural heritage, and, against the odds, did something about it. That same boldness is needed today. The Trust is uniquely placed to do something about these challenges and it’s why we are setting ourselves these ambitious but much-needed goals.”

Alongside the transformation of the Bath Assembly Rooms, the charity promises a future of world-class exhibitions for visitors, heading the 2025 programme with Luke Jerram’s new artwork ‘Helios’, opening on January 11 at the Somerset venue.