by Ed Targett

Cathedral officials will learn within weeks whether they have been successful in a £10.5 million funding bid to repair the crumbling landmark.

As well as pushing ahead with vital structural repairs, including a full lead roof replacement, they also hope to begin a complete “reconstruction” of the Christchurch gate and create a new welcome centre.

If successful, the proposal – part of an £18.6 million refurbishment – would lead to the biggest overhaul of the World Heritage Site in more than a century.

The Cathedral’s development team made the bid in November to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Yet even if it gets the thumbs up, the Cathedral will have to find the remaining millions.

Spokesman Chris Robinson told the Gazette this week that the repairs would be the most substantial in 150 years.

He said: “If we get approval for phase one, our development team will go into overdrive.

“The work that needs doing is extensive, including major renovations to the entire body of the nave, the west towers and the roof.

“It will be the biggest renovation since the 1860s.

“When the Victorians were doing their renovation they used a lot of Portland cement, which is very strong.

“But water can’t escape through it so rainwater just sits under the stone and when it freezes, bits of stone break away.

“We have our own team of 20 stonemasons who will be doing all the work in-house.”

In 2009, masonry around the 14th century Great South Window began to fall out, triggering fears that the 80ft window could collapse.

And despite the pomp of last week’s enthronement of Archbishop Justin Welby, few can have failed to notice the widespread scaffolding.

The most radical step the team hopes to take is to build a new visitor centre just inside the Christchurch gate.

It could include space to display many of the historical items in the Cathedral’s archives, including rare Anglo Saxon charters.

The Heritage Lottery Fund decision is expected on April ­23.