Date published: 2026-01-30 | Category: Bath, Delivering for local residents, Heritage , recovery and renewal, Regeneration and Development, WECA
Bath & North East Somerset Council’s plans to develop Fashion Museum Bath have taken a step forward with £1.745m grant funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
Fashion Museum Bath is a key part of the council’s regeneration plans to reimagine central Bath to create a destination for fashion and culture. It will be a central part of the Milsom Quarter, which will see improved public spaces, better traffic flow and more housing – making the area even better for business, residents and visitors.
The museum will bring fashion to life for local and global audiences. It will be located in the Grade II listed Old Post Office and will champion fashion’s transformative power as a global industry and expression of creativity, culture and identity.
As well as positive benefits to Bath, impact will be felt across the wider region. As a flagship project in the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Growth Plan, this grant represents an investment in the growth, profile and success of the West of England.
At the heart of the Fashion Museum Bath project is the creation of a new public square in front of the Old Post Office, the new museum, and St Michael’s Church. Currently dominated by vehicle traffic, this area will be redesigned as an attractive, welcoming civic space with improved movement routes for pedestrians and cyclists, space for community events, and new green landscaping. For more information on the public realm proposals and plans see our website.
The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, at its meeting on January 30, approved the Outline Business Case to deliver initial works for Fashion Museum Bath, awarding up to £1.745m from its Investment Fund - £1.256m in 2026/27 and £489k in 2027/28. This follows on from a foundational investment of £1.5m that the Combined Authority made in the feasibility stage of the project in 2024/25.
Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council and Deputy Mayor, said: “It is fantastic news for the West of England’s creative and visitor economy that our ambitious vision for Fashion Museum Bath and the Milsom Quarter has been awarded a further £1.745m of funding. The project will help attract further investment into the region, generate new employment opportunities, and strengthen the tourism and cultural sectors across the west of England.
“But this project is so much more than a UK-leading museum – it’s a key component of the Milsom Quarter Masterplan which is our plan for culture-led regeneration in this part of the city. It’s particularly pleasing that this grant will specifically contribute to creating a new public square, improved traffic flow and make the space more attractive for everyone.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “I had the pleasure of seeing some of Fashion Museum Bath’s remarkable collection last year, which will soon be brought to life for locals and visitors alike at the heart of the Milsom Quarter. It is a real asset for our region. Building on the combined authority’s earlier investment, and that of the council and National Lottery Heritage Fund, this £1.75 million funding will help move this exciting project forward.
“We’re proud to have such a special cultural scene across the West of England and, through regional funding, we’re backing projects that strengthen our creative economy, improve public spaces, and boost the visitor economy. It’s a clear example of how our ambitious Growth Strategy will support places and people across our region to thrive.”
Construction for Fashion Museum Bath is expected to begin in 2027, subject to planning approvals, ahead of its target opening date of December 2030.
The Milsom Quarter Masterplan sets out the council’s plans to improve public spaces to complement the historic environment and create green spaces, including proposals for the new public square in front of the new Fashion Museum and St Michael’s Church - an area currently dominated by vehicle traffic. The scheme will also support improved movement of people and vehicles within the Milsom Quarter, particularly around the new Fashion Museum Bath.
Following conditional approval of the Outline Business Case at the meeting on January 30, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and the council will work in partnership to develop the proposals further with a view to submitting a Final Business Case later in 2026.
View the planning application for Fashion Museum Bath
ENDS