An abandoned chapel in the Epsom hospital cluster is a step closer to becoming a thriving arts and community centre after councillors gave a community arts group the green light to bid for funding.

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s strategy and resources committee unanimously chose the society ahead of Auriol-based Oasis Church, charity Hindu Mauritian Sabha and councillor Omer Kokou-Tchri to bid for funding to refurbish the chapel on Tuesday, September 27.

From October 2015: Epsom Residents Association plan sale of historic Horton Chapel if right offer is made

From October 2015: Residents demand urgent campaign over future of historic Horton Chapel

Councillors also pledged to release up to £1.45m to the Horton Chapel Arts and Heritage Society (HCAHS) for the regeneration of the Grade II listed Victorian building in Livingston Park.

From November 2015: Epsom and Ewell Arts Festival organisers to turn "eyesore" Horton Chapel into community hub?

Surrey Comet:
Back row (L-R): Claire Harris, Maria Reeves, Bryan Benge, Ian Reeves; Front row (L-R):  Nick Barry, Sarah Dewing, Kirstie Arnould, Julian Waters, Rupert Salmon, David Gulland, Lionel Blackman

The HCAHS is made up of 11 local residents, including Sky Sports News presenter Julian Walters, a stage manager at The National Theatre, and two committee members of MgSO4 – the weekend-long arts festival that took place in the borough over the summer.

From February: 'Semi-derelict and dangerous' Horton Chapel will not be used for summer arts festival, council says

The society hope to renovate the chapel so that a programme of performances, film screenings, exhibitions and events can take place alongside children’s clubs, and a café and bar.

From April: Heritage Lottery Fund give vote of confidence to group trying to turn derelict Horton Chapel into arts hub

In April, the group was awarded a Heritage Lottery start-up grant of £10,000, and has applied for further funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund and the Heritage Lottery Enterprise Fund.

They will now continue to apply for funding grants and seek donations for the project.

Surrey Comet:

Ian Reeves, co-founder of the Centre for Journalism at the University of Kent, and the society’s chair, said: “There is still have a long way to go to raise the total funds needed but will continue do our very best to make it happen.

“We are already planning on the next stage of development and look forward to working with the Council to make Horton Chapel a beacon of pride for the borough.”

Kate Chinn, a borough councillor for Court ward, in which the chapel is located, celebrated the news.

“I think it’s absolutely fantastic news,” she said.

“They’ve got some really good intentions for it – education, arts, dance, school clubs.

“It will serve the whole population.”

Surrey Comet:

Her fellow Court ward councillor Vince Romagnuolo added: “It has been a blight on the community for two decades, so we should be ambitious.

“I think we should move quickly on this.”

Neil Dallen, vice chairman of the council’s strategy and resources committee, said: “Hopefully they will get “They’ve done a lot of work and I think the whole committee was impressed with the standards of their presentation.”

For more information, or to make a donation, visit hortonchapelarts.org