13/03/2026 We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded the contract to deliver a new purpose-built Archive and Museum Store that will safeguard and preserve important historic collections for future generations.

The new facility will bring together museum, art and archive collections currently stored across separate locations into a single modern storage environment. Designed to meet stringent environmental, fire protection and security standards required for historic records, the building will ensure these valuable collections are protected while providing capacity for future growth.

The project will also support continued public access to archive materials. Items from the collection will remain available on request and will be delivered to a dedicated Local Studies room at the borough’s new central library, where they can be viewed by appointment.

In addition to the new archive and museum store, the development will include improvements to the surrounding park-edge site. Mature trees will be retained as part of the landscaping plans, while enhanced security measures and reduced vehicle movements will improve the site environment. The existing community growing area will remain in place and will benefit from new storage facilities for the local Friends group.

The existing museum and art store will be demolished to make way for the new building, with construction expected to begin in May and continue for approximately 12 months.

We look forward to delivering a high-quality facility that protects important heritage collections while supporting community engagement and future access.