Opening of museum pushed back for second time

The planned opening for a 145-year-old museum that has been closed since 2022 has been pushed back again.

Ipswich Museum on High Street closed several years ago for a remodelling, with plans for a new gallery, additional space, new cafe, as well as an improved shop and toilet facilities.

Initially the reopening of the building, which is owned by Ipswich Borough Council, had been planned for 2025, before it was pushed back to this spring.

However Labour councillor for planning and museums, Carole Jones, said it had been delayed again to the end of 2026.

Jones explained that while the building work as well as the painting and redecorating had been completed, the council was looking for a contractor to build new display cases for its artefacts.

"We are hoping for the end of this year that that will be done," Jones told BBC Radio Suffolk's Matt Marvel.

She also said the council was considering a phased opening, whereby one section of the museum might be accessible to the public before the rest of the building.

The project is costing £11.4m, made up of various grants as well as the council's own money.

The museum, which initially opened on High Street in 1881, was described as "precious" by Jones.

"It's a really important building and the important thing is to get it right, not get it done as fast as possible and we are where we are.

"We have to do it properly.

"We've had an enormous job to do - that had never been done to this building since it was built in the 19th Century."

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