Coventry Transport Museum could relocate into the city’s former Ikea store, which will soon house a new cultural hub and collections centre.
The museum, which been located at Millennium Place since 1980, could be moved to the first and second floors of the old Ikea building, now called the City Centre Cultural Gateway (CCCG).
In a press release, Coventry City Council said consultation meetings will take place to explore how the lower floors of the former store will be used.
Coventry Transport Museum‘s off-site car collection is already relocating to the ground floor of the cultural hub, meaning it will be in the same venue as the museum for the first time.
Councillor David Welsh said: “Whilst we are consulting on this, we want to make it clear that the decision on how these floors are utilised has not yet been made.
“We’re speaking to the team members working on the ground at the transport museum and the council to capture their valuable knowledge and insight which is crucial to our decision-making process.”
The building’s third and fourth floors have already been reserved for CV Life, Arts Council England, Arts Council Collection and the British Council to house their art collections.
The fifth and six floors will be utilised by Coventry University, which will create a cultural hub with teaching areas, research space and attractions.
New cultural hub and collections centre
Paul Breed, chief executive at CV Life, added: “There is so much opportunity within the CCCG at this moment, with lots of ideas floating around as to how the cultural offer of the city can be grown.
“The idea of incorporating a consolidated and expanded transport museum offer into the developments has huge potential, especially if it brings with it new elements that focus on enhancing the interactive experience of the visitor.”
Planning permission for the project was granted earlier this summer.
