LONDON, ENGLAND.-Travelling the length and breadth of the country, Restoration brought to life the stories behind some of Britain’s most threatened architectural treasures for millions of BBC Two viewers. On 4th September (BBC Two, 9pm) Griff Rhys Jones will present an hour-long programme looking at the many heritage gems that were featured in the two series, including Victoria Baths in Manchester.

Winning Restoration in 2003 meant that the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) earmarked £3million for the Turkish Baths element of the Victoria Baths building, with a further £500,000 secured from the Restoration Fund through viewer votes and donations.

Since this time there has been considerable progress behind the scenes at Victoria Baths, including the preparation of a condition survey, a conservation plan, a full measured survey and detailed plans for the Turkish Baths.

As Gill Wright, Project Manager for the Victoria Baths Trust, explains: "Finding a viable future as well as restoring any historic building is a complex and lengthy process. It takes a huge amount of painstaking work to bring heritage projects alive. Plans are now are now taking shape and we are beginning to feel positive about the way forward for the project.”

Whilst much of this preparation work is now completed, the project’s partners (Victoria Baths Trust, Manchester City Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage) continue to work closely together to secure a sustainable and long-term future plan for this beautiful Edwardian public bath house.

Over the past few months the Victoria Baths Trust and HLF have been discussing new proposals to use the HLF’s earmarked £3million to begin the restoration in earnest by starting some permanent external building repairs. Detailed plans have now been drawn up and, provided that the HLF approves them, architects and contractors can be appointed and the first real work on the building can begin. It is hoped this work will start during 2006.

“Like all the partners, HLF is totally committed to a long-term future for Victoria Baths”, commented Tony Jones, HLF Regional Manager for the North West. “It’s a wonderful building but a complicated restoration project and transformation on this scale often takes some time to complete because a viable use and future for the site has to be developed with a range of partners. We're working with the partners to support their aims for the building to have a secure and vibrant future with good public access.”

HLF has also recently awarded an additional £50,000 grant for a part time project officer who will be looking at ways to continue to keep the building open to the public during the planning and restoration process. A further £50,000 has been awarded to the Trust by HLF to help with the initial planning stages of the project. This £100,000 is over and above the HLF funding via the Restoration series.

English Heritage provides 75 % of Victoria Baths project manager’s salary - a key role as the link between the community support for the project (the members of the trust) and the development of the restoration project.

The Victoria Baths Trust is stepping up its own fundraising efforts as it is estimated that the full restoration of the building will cost around £20 million. Members of the public are invited to become Restoration Supporters by donating regularly to the Trust’s Building Fund. An increasing number of volunteers are taking an active role in the building and charitable trusts will be invited to fund specific aspects of the restoration.