Plans for improved facilities at a historic garden have been approved.

The Secret Garden in Kemp Town, Brighton, is due to get an indoor community space, additional toilets, a new kitchen, a disabled access footpath and an access stair following the approval of plans submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council.

The garden originally belonged to a home in Sussex Square and was accessed from a tunnel.

There used to be several such gardens but now the Secret Garden is the last one standing. It opens on weekends in the warmer months for people to view its sculptures, learn about its history or have tea and cake from its refreshments stall.

The Secret Garden is called "secret" because it is "an oasis, a delightful walled garden hidden from view, in the midst of suburban Kemp Town", the trustees said. ​ It was bought by the family of Antony Dale, founder of the Regency Society, in 1950. It was cared for by Antony and his wife Yvonne.

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Rather than sell it for development, Yvonne decided the garden should remain as a haven for the use of the community and others and for artistic purposes.

Plans submitted by the Antony Dale Trust, which runs the garden, read: “This application is for the refurbishment of the existing pavilion structure and the construction of sensitively designed additions to the existing pavilion and garden, using traditional materials and elegant lightweight designs to bring into prominence and view the existing historic fabric and setting.

“The proposals would provide fully compliant disabled access and accessible toilet facilities and a flexible learning and hospitality space that will enable extended public and safe community access to the garden’s heritage, history, and cultural programme.

“The orangery structure proposal and new kitchen and toilet facilities would allow year-round access to The Secret Garden and contribute to the city’s heritage, wellbeing and quality of life.

“It would deliver a unique, curated regency garden and a publicly accessible serviced pavilion that would preserve a very picturesque fragment of Kemp Town's regency heritage."