Museum's £5 million revamp gets the thumbs up

| 7 Apr 2012

The redevelopment of Coventry Transport Museum is a huge step nearer after receiving the initial thumbs up for a £5 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The museum now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award.

If it does get final approval the project will completely revamp the exhibition spaces, plus conserve and refurbish the Grade 1 listed Old Grammar School to bring it back into public use as an archive and educational facility.

Last year the museum attracted 400,000 to its celebration of the city's rich transport history which boasted 120 motor vehicle manufacturers, 300 cycle manufacturers, 130 motorcycle manufacturers and a variety of commercial vehicle companies. 

It currently has 250 cars on display, plus 450 cycles and 120 motorcycles, saying it is the largest collection of British Road Transport in the world. 

Coventry Transport Museum chairman Joe Elliott said: "This is great news for the City of Coventry, the Old Grammar School has been out of use for over 40 years so the museum is particularly pleased to be working with the Old Grammar School Trust to bring one of Coventry’s oldest buildings back into use."