Plans for a museum extension have divided opinion among councillors.

Dartmouth Town Council’s planning committee briefly discussed the application for a glass and steel structure on the rear of the building on Wednesday – but then decided it should be brought to full council next month.

Dartmouth Museum has submitted an application to South Hams District Council to build the first-floor glass rear extension to form an additional display room above a car parking area in Foss Slip.

It would have a flat roof with a glass facade and will be accessed through a door created where there is now a bay window.

The planning committee agreed all councillors should have a say over the future of the building, which is owned by the town council.

The application will be brought to full council meeting on Monday, September 3.

It was decided to invite Commander David Lingard, chairman of the museum trustees, to the meeting.

However, councillors were split in their views towards the extension. Cllr David Gent, chairman of the planning committee, said he felt the extension looked “hideous” and inappropriate for the area.

But Cllr Robin Springett said he thought it was an improvement on what is there currently and it was good to put up something very different.

The Duke Street museum is within the town centre Conservation Area and also within South Devon’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The building was Grade I-listed in September, 1949.

The plan is to provide a new gallery area by forming a contemporary extension to the rear elevation while maintaining the existing parking spaces below.

It will also incorporate a glass box to provide natural light and a viewing gallery giving views across the Flavel and the visitor centre.

Historic England has said: “Overall, we are happy that the proposed extension will form an interesting addition to an important historic building, as well as enlivening the appearance of a street whose historic buildings have been somewhat compromised by utilitarian modern additions and the predominance of parked vehicles.”

It added: “On the basis of the most recent drawings produced, we are content for you to present the scheme to Dartmouth Town Council and other interested parties, prior to working up details to make a listed building and planning application.”

Dartmouth Town Council discussed the proposal back in June when Adam Benns from BBH Architects gave a presentation about the proposed extension.

He said the extension was not dependent on the May­flower 400 replica model ship being housed in the museum and that the district council was happy to support the proposal.