A £2million project to safeguard the future of Glencoe Folk Museum has been approved.
Staff at the museum have been working towards a large-scale redevelopment for the last three years, which has been carefully designed to balance the charm of the existing building with a modern extension celebrating the history of Glencoe.
Now the team have been granted planning permission for the project and say they are “thrilled” to get to work.
The development will include:
- An accessible entrance
- A reception and gift shop area
- The museum’s first toilet facilities
- A climate-controlled exhibition gallery to better protect and display the museum’s collection
The redevelopment will also repair and enhance the Ballachulish museum’s historic 19th century croft cottages – the centrepiece of the museum building – and transform the byre (cowshed) into a community gallery for activities, talks, events, local exhibitions and school visits.
Work expected to start late next year
Plans for the upgraded museum have been developed by conservation architects and modified through community feedback to sit sympathetically with both the current street view and local traditional building design.
Building work is expected to start in late 2023, with the redeveloped museum reopening in 2024.
The museum still needs to secure major match-funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other funding bodies, however, having planning permission in place means it is one step closer to attaining this.
Glencoe Folk Museum trustee and daughter of one of its original founders, Morag Watt said: “We are over the moon at this fantastic news and want to thank everyone for all their hard work in getting us to this stage.
“There are still challenges ahead but the community support for this project has been invaluable.”
Conversation