Battersea Arts Centre has received £2.5 million to help restore the outside of its building and create an archive of its history.

The centre, which is housed in a grade II-listed former town hall, has been given the Heritage Lottery Fund grant to conserve its Victorian exterior, on areas such as the roof, windows and entrances.

Repair works will also be carried out on the stained glass octagonal dome, the mosaic flooring and a 20^th century organ.

An online digital archive will be created, as well as a physical one, by merging collections at Wandsworth Heritage Service and the British Library. Members of the community will be able to contribute to the archive by uploading their own records.

Michael Day, chair of BAC’s board, said: “BAC’s raison d’etre is to innovate. I think its heritage project will mark out new ways for arts and heritage organisations to engage audiences with history.”

The grant contributes to BAC’s £13.3 million capital project, which began work in 2010.

In addition to restoring the outside of the building, the project includes creating a promenade of 12 flexible performance spaces on BAC’s first floor and improving access to the building.

The project will also see event spaces and residential accommodation created on site for up to 24 artists.