A council’s decision to raise money by selling off assets has denied campaigners the chance to establish a new museum celebrating one of the UK's greatest architects.

Decimus Burton, arguably the most famous architect of the 19th century, was a son of Tunbridge Wells, having spent his childhood at Mapledon.

He later returned to design more than 70 properties in the spa town, and in London was behind Wellington Arch, Hyde Park and Regents Park.

Two of the Tunbridge Wells buildings – Nos 9 and 10 Calverley Terrace in Crescent Road – were at the centre of plans jointly prepared by the Tunbridge Wells Civic Society and the Decimus Burton Society to establish a museum dedicated to the life and works of the famous man.

The museum was to have been housed in his two adjacent Regency villas, which are currently vacant but were last used as offices, with the car park to the front being turned into a sensory garden.

But even though the council was fully aware of the museum project, it has put the Grade-II villas up for sale on the open market through estate agents Lambert Smith Hampton.

The move has “deeply disappointed” the two societies, who say they were not informed of the council’s decision to sell until after the properties were placed with the agents.

Paul Avis is the chairman of both societies. He said: “It is very upsetting.”

“It turns out the decision to market the properties was made by a very small committee of councillors, and our project, which we have been working on for years, was never presented to the full council.”

The two societies had already held detailed discussions with the Heritage Lottery Fund to raise funds for the museum and had been in touch with many national museums and galleries – including the Victoria and Albert Museum – who had promised the loan of some of their own Decimus Burton artefacts for display in the museum. The Prince’s Trust and the Royal Academy were also supporting the project.

A business plan had estimated that the museum would cost around £3m to establish, but would likely receive 20,000 visitors a year and bring in £750k per annum to the area.

Mr Avis, who is himself an architect, said: “This would not only have been of interest to Tunbridge Wells residents but also would have been of national importance, attracting people from London and wider afield.”

Decimus Burton designed some of London’s best-known buildings including Wellington Arch, and many of its parks, including Hyde Park and Regents Park.

Within Tunbridge Wells, he designed Calverley Grounds and Trinity Church – now Trinity Theatre – as well as many individual homes, including the building that is now the Hotel du Vin, opposite the villas.

Mr Avis said: “The museum would really establish Tunbridge Wells as a tourist destination and would complement the new Amelia Scott Centre and The Pantiles.

“Some of the councillors had told us they were worried the museum would inevitably come in over budget, but that was not going to be the case. Our business plan had been prepared by experts in the field and included provisions for inflation and contingencies.

“Unfortunately, even though we first presented our ideas to the council in March 2022, there have been some councillors who really never wanted it to happen.

“Instead of taking a long-term view of the town’s prosperity, they are going for a short-term fire sale.”

No specific price is being asked by the council for the properties, but a figure of around £1.8m has been suggested.

The council’s cabinet members endorsed the decision to place the villas on the market at a meeting on October 26.

Mr Avis is urging the council to immediately withdraw the properties and to give the societies the chance to present their case to a meeting of the full council.

He said: “All we want is a fair hearing for our plans.”

They are not without some council support.

Cllr Marguerita Morton (Lib Dem) said: “You cannot divorce Tunbridge Wells from Decimus Burton. He designed so much of our town centre.

“It would be a terrible shame to see these important buildings sold off.

“I shall be urging the cabinet to defer such a decision until after we have completed the formation of our town centre plan and have given the societies a proper opportunity to present their plans.”

Decimus Burton was the 10th son of James Burton, who was also an architect and builder.

A Tunbridge Wells Borough Council spokesman said: “The property has been listed as surplus to requirements, and therefore a potential asset for disposal, since the full council agreed to adopt its Asset Management Plan in March 2023.

“The property is being marketed and offers received as sealed bids.

“The cabinet are being asked for delegated authority to enable a suitable offer to be accepted and to complete all necessary legal formalities once the sealed bid process has been concluded.

“The council is not in a position to use tax-payers’ money to subsidise any plans for a museum in this building.

“The sale provides an opportunity for any society or organisation to seek to acquire the property.”