Plans submitted to reopen museum after three years

Plans have been submitted to redevelop and reopen a fashion museum that closed three years ago.

Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) Council submitted the application to relocate the Fashion Museum to the grade-II listed Old Post Office on Northgate Street in the city as part of the Milsom Quarter Masterplan, which it said aimed to "reimagine the high street".

As well as the renovation, the plans include the creation of a new public square, an entrance with improved accessibility, a cafe, a garden and new spaces for exhibitions, learning and retail units.

A council spokesperson said the museum would "play a pivotal role in the economic, cultural, and social future of the city".

BANES' Heritage Services secured £768,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a contribution of more than £1.3m from the council and £1.7m funding from the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) to reopen and redevelop the museum, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Kevin Guy, leader of BANES Council, said he was "delighted" to receive investment from Weca.

"Fashion Museum Bath will secure future investment in the city, create jobs and support the continued growth of the tourism and culture sectors across our region.

"Culture sits at the heart of vibrant places and it remains a key priority for Bath and North East Somerset Council and is something that all our residents should be able to enjoy," he said.

Since the museum left its former home in the Assembly Rooms in 2022, its collection - which contains 100,000 items spanning 400 years from 1600 to the present day - has been stored in a glove factory in Wiltshire

The council said it aimed to open the new site in 2030.

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