Plans to renovate Brentwood Town Hall and bring it “into the 21st century” have been given the go ahead, despite opposition to its “obscene” cost.

Under the plans, the Town Hall, on Ingrave Road, will become a “one stop shop” for the community and will house the likes of the Citizens Advice Bureau and Job Centre Plus.

The project will cost £5.3 million – £2 million more than original budget set for the project last year.

The top two floors of the Town Hall are already being prepared to be rented out to interested parties, with council workers having already been moved around the building.

The council hope that by renting out the space the Town Hall will make them money.

In 2011 plans by the Tories to convert the building into flats and move to a purpose built building next door were rejected by members.

Oppoisiton to the project now say the new plans mean there will be less space for charity groups to utilise, and will instead be crammed into a open-plan foyer.

Tory councillor Roger Hurst said: “There will be less room for the charities and for a paying tenant. I find this proposal unsuitable. We’re looking at spending £500,000 more on this building and getting less for it.”

Fellow Tory Councillor Chris Hossack said it was an “obscene” amount of money to spend on administration centre, and that any plan for a community hub had disappeared.

Conservative Councillor Roger McCheyne invited jeers when damned the plans. He said: “When I speak to people locally a vast amount don’t know where the town hall is and couldn’t give a damn.”

Council leader Barry Aspinell though is raving about the plans. He said: “We’ll be providing floor space for a company to move in here. That was our number one objective.

He added: “It will become a one stop shop for our residents.”