£7 Million Funding Boost for Bath’s Fashion Museum and Milsom Quarter

Plans to bring Bath’s Fashion Museum back to the city centre have received a major boost, with an additional £7 million approved to support the museum’s new home and the wider regeneration of the Milsom Quarter.

The funding, approved by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, will help transform the Grade II listed Old Post Office into the new Fashion Museum Bath, while supporting improvements to the surrounding streets and public spaces.

It’s another important step towards bringing one of Bath’s best-known cultural attractions back into the heart of the city.

A New Home for Bath’s Fashion Collection

The Fashion Museum’s new home will be the historic Old Post Office building in the Milsom Quarter, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and the museum scheduled to reopen in 2030.

Planning permission and listed building consent were granted earlier this year.

The new museum will house an internationally important collection of around 100,000 objects spanning more than 400 years of fashion history.

The ambition is to create the UK’s leading museum dedicated to fashion, exploring not just clothing and design, but the ways fashion reflects and influences society.

Once open, the museum is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors annually.

According to council projections, the project could generate at least £111 million in economic and social value across the West of England.

More Than Just a Museum

The £7 million investment isn’t solely about the museum building.

It will also help progress the wider transformation of the Milsom Quarter, with plans to make this part of Bath a more attractive and welcoming place for residents, businesses and visitors.

The council’s long-term vision includes greener streets, improved pedestrian and cycling connections, better public spaces and a new public square.

The aim is to strengthen the area as a destination for shopping, culture, creativity and community life.

The first phase of the Milsom Quarter public realm programme is progressing through design development, although further statutory approvals will be needed.

Opportunities for Local People

Alongside the potential boost to tourism and local businesses, the museum project is also expected to create opportunities for education, training and employment.

Plans include placements, apprenticeships and work experience, helping people develop skills and explore careers in fashion, heritage, creative industries and technical fields.

Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, described the investment as another major milestone for the project.

He said the museum would be more than a cultural attraction, helping to support local businesses, create jobs and bring new opportunities to Bath and the wider region.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, also welcomed the funding, highlighting the opportunities for local people and the potential benefits for hospitality, retail and the wider visitor economy.

Building on Existing Investment

The newly approved £7 million follows £3.25 million already invested in the project by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

The scheme is also supported by funding from Bath & North East Somerset Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Clore Duffield Foundation.

With construction expected to begin next year, the focus will now turn to delivering the new museum and progressing the wider plans for the Milsom Quarter.

For Bath, the project represents both the return of a major cultural institution and an opportunity to reshape an important part of the city centre over the coming years.