HLF grant to progress Fashion Museum

[Artist’s impression of finished museum]

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced a £ 7.2 million grant to progress plans for the development by B&NES of the UK’s leading fashion museum, which will be housed in the prominent Grade II listed Old Post Office in the centre of Bath.

Fashion Museum Bath will be one of the UK’s most significant cultural projects, playing a pivotal role in the cultural, economic and social future of the region. It will champion the transformative power of fashion, inspire and challenge audiences of all ages, and celebrate the creativity of designers, makers and wearers. It will be a social and cultural hub providing skills, digital and wellbeing programmes alongside wider economic benefit for the region.

The new museum will showcase more of the Fashion Museum’s renowned Collection than ever before. Designated by Arts Council England as being of outstanding national importance, the Collection is of exceptional breadth, depth, and quality. Spanning from the late sixteenth century to the present day, it offers a unique lens on the power and potential of fashion through extraordinary garments, accessories, fashion illustrations, photography and business archives. It provides rich entry points into the global fashion industry, from high street to haute couture.

Including pieces from around the world, the Collection is particularly renowned for its European, especially British, fashion. From the Silver Tissue Dress, a rare surviving ensemble of matching bodice and skirt dating from the 1660s, to works by notable designers such as Mary Quant and Alexander McQueen, and contemporary designs by Phoebe English and Bianca Saunders, the Collection offers a dynamic, ever-evolving archive of human experience, design innovation and cultural transformation.

Funding from the Heritage Fund will safeguard and transform access to the Collection, ensuring it can continue to be researched, interpreted and enjoyed by everyone. An ambitious digital programme will further broaden access through the development of a new online catalogue, making the Collection available to researchers, students and fashion enthusiasts around the world, while securing its relevance for future generations.

Bath & North East Somerset Council leader, Councillor Kevin Guy said:

“This grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund marks a transformational moment for Bath and comes hot on the heels of the recently secured planning permission for the new Museum. 

This project represents far more than capital investment. It will breathe new life into a landmark building, create opportunities for local people, support young people’s skills and creativity, improve accessibility, strengthen Bath’s visitor economy and enhance one of the city’s most important public spaces. 

At a time when many places are scaling back ambition, Bath is investing in its future – combining heritage, culture, economic growth and public realm improvements to create a more vibrant, inclusive and prosperous city. The progress achieved over the past year provides strong confidence that both projects can deliver lasting benefits for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”

Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

“This is a once-in-a-generation project that will transform the Grade II listed Old Post Office, ensuring its heritage is conserved and reimagined for future generations. Thanks to National Lottery players, this investment will not only restore an historic building in the heart of Bath but create a world-class home for one of the most significant fashion collections in the UK. The importance of this collection can’t be understated and it is fantastic that this will be on display in the South West.

This project is about more than buildings and collections; its legacy will be shown through the people and communities it connects with. It will create meaningful opportunities for young people through skills development, training and pathways into work, helping to nurture the next generation of talent. Through extensive community engagement and partnerships, the museum will work with people from underserved and disadvantaged communities, ensuring that the benefits of this investment are widely shared. We are excited to support a project that will strengthen local pride, boost the regional economy and demonstrate how heritage can be a catalyst for regeneration, opportunity and inclusion.”

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:

“This major boost from the National Lottery Heritage Fund is exciting news for the Fashion Museum, helping to open up its remarkable collection to fashion fans and historians around the world online while it continues its journey towards a new home in Milsom Quarter.

“When it reopens, the Fashion Museum will not only strengthen Bath’s existing appeal as a world-class visitor destination, but further cement the West of England’s reputation as a globally leading centre of creativity and culture.”

The funding will also enable a major pre-opening programme focused on skills development for local people. Fashion Museum Bath will act as a launchpad for those wanting to explore opportunities in the UK’s creative industries, opening pathways into careers in design, making, marketing and entrepreneurship through skills training, education and work experience.

Developed in partnership with a wide range of local and national organisations, including Bath Spa University and the London School of Architecture, the programme places emerging talent at the heart of the Museum’s vision. It will provide visibility, opportunity and real-world experience, supporting the next generation of creative talent into sustainable careers

The new Fashion Museum Bath is designed by award‑winning architects 6a and it is set to become one of the first museums in the UK to achieve the EnerPHit standard, the internationally recognised benchmark for the sustainable retrofit of existing buildings. It will be a welcoming and accessible destination for all, bringing together local communities, visitors, fashion enthusiasts and industry professionals.

As a key part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s vision for the city, the museum will support economic growth, strengthen the creative industries and create pathways into education, training and employment alongside supporting health and wellbeing programmes. As an anchor institution within the city centre, it will help drive footfall, boost tourism and contribute to Bath’s thriving cultural and creative economy, fostering civic pride and a stronger connection to the city’s heritage.

This Delivery Phase award builds on the £768,000 Development Phase grant awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in March 2025, alongside significant investment from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Ongoing fundraising for the project will be spearheaded by the Fashion Museum Foundation and continue through the launch of an ambitious philanthropic campaign, inviting supporters to play a role in bringing this world-class cultural destination to life and realising its full potential.

Fashion Museum Bath is anticipated to reopen in 2030 with construction starting on site in late 2027. In the lead up to opening, there will be a programme of community driven talks and events, consultations, engagement and outreach activities with a range of audiences and partners across B&NES. For more information and to get involved, visit fashionmuseum.co.uk