Walsall's Ambitious Museum Project Faces £12m Price Tag and Lengthy Timeline
A newly uncovered feasibility study for a 'Future Walsall Museum' has revealed that the project could require up to £12 million in funding and take between five and eleven years to complete. The document, obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), details two potential town centre sites for the proposed museum, sparking debate over the relocation from its current historic home.
Controversy Over Access and Relocation Plans
Campaigners Lauren Broxton and Linda Boys reported being denied access to the 2024 report, which cost taxpayers £47,500, citing commercial sensitivity. Despite this, the study has now come to light, outlining significant challenges and opportunities for the museum's future.
Walsall Council decided in September to move the museum from its current location on Littleton Street West to an unspecified town centre site. The council plans to lease the existing building, a former Victorian leather factory, to Walsall College for 125 years at a nominal peppercorn rent.
Campaigners argue that the building itself is the museum's largest artefact and should remain in place. However, Council Leader Councillor Mike Bird publicly stated on BBC Radio WM that the structure has 'got no heritage at all,' a claim contradicted by the feasibility study which notes the building is 'partly recognised as an important part of local heritage.' Historic England is currently reviewing an application to list the building.
Financial and Operational Challenges
The feasibility study, conducted by architects Hill Harvey-Wood, assessed whether the current museum is fit for the future and identified optimal locations for a new facility. It praised the 'dedicated and enthusiastic' staff and volunteers who have created an 'outstanding' experience despite minimal investment.
Council data confirms that no capital investment has been made in the museum over the past decade, and there is no dedicated marketing budget. Visitor numbers were reported as 13,941 in 2025 and 13,607 in 2024, highlighting the need for revitalisation.
In 2015, following the closure of the Walsall Museum in the Lichfield Street library, the council undertook 'substantial work' to develop the Leather Museum into a Walsall Heritage Centre. The study found that investing in the current site would offer a medium-cost improvement but would not meet the ambitions of the Future Walsall Museum.
Proposed Sites and Community Engagement
Four town centre locations were reviewed, with two shortlisted as meeting the project's requirements. Costs for these sites are estimated between £5 million and £12 million, with timelines ranging from five to eleven years before opening.
The study emphasised that moving the museum to the outskirts would be a 'missed opportunity' given major transformation plans for the town centre. It also stressed the importance of early community involvement, stating that 'communities and potential users need to be involved in the process from the start rather than half-way through or at the end.'
Notably, the report highlighted that it is 'not appreciated how much the museum is rooted in some of the poorer communities in the borough,' underscoring its social significance beyond cultural heritage.
