MALMESBURY Abbey's £3million restoration scheme has finally got the go-ahead after a decade of planning.

North Wiltshire District Council has given the scheme the nod and although it has yet to be confirmed in writing, the steering committee is delighted with the news.

Chairman John Jenkins told the Standard: "It is phenomenal. It is a fantastic achievement for all the people who have been involved in the project."

It is more than a year since the plans were submitted and since then delicate negotiations have resulted in several changes.

Now they have finally borne fruit, giving the abbey its own Easter story.

But the work carries on. Mr Jenkins said: "The next phase is now to raise the money and set about doing it."

A range of grant sources are being explored and the whole town is being invited to get involved.

"It has always been a community project and I see the community becoming more and more involved.

"If we can get the right momentum behind it. It is a good community and it is a fantastic building with a great heritage."

The project, which had to win approval from the Church of England, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport as wll as English Heritage, includes a three-storey extension that will house a kitchen, toilets and badly-needed community rooms.

A new west door will be installed with a courtyard area and the group is looking at a variety of environmentally friendly options like solar panels and ground heat.

The task will be broken down into bite-sized chunks and one has already been completed with the first phase of the east wall restoration.

"Probably the hardest phase was kicking the project off and getting people interested enough to support it," said Mr Jenkins. "But to get the designs completed and through planning was a major achievement.

"A lot of people didn't think we would get planning permission but we have. It really is going to happen now."