PLANNING permission has been granted to convert the B-listed Maryfield Tram Depot in Dundee into the permanent home of the Dundee Museum of Transport.
The museum is currently based in temporary premises on Market Street but is set to move to the multi-million-pound new premises on Forfar Road following ‘extensive’ renovation.
The museum bought the 120m-long building and surrounding two acres of grounds in 2015. Initially constructed in 1901, the depot could house up to 70 trams but has been on the ‘Buildings at Risk’ register since 2010.
The development plans are set to rescue the building from disrepair, with proposals to re-use the existing building fabric and conserve and restore building elements where possible.
The design, by Dundee-based architectural practice Andrew Black Design, is described as allowing ‘flexibility’ to respond to current and future needs of the museum. A new steel structure and modern panelled roof will be installed to the dilapidated, fire-damaged rear section with translucent poly-carbonate panels at high level to introduce light into the new exhibition space.
Internally, the increased height will allow for future expansion via a mezzanine level offering the museum the ability to change the space to suit its needs. The entrance will be moved to the centre of the building within an internal courtyard that spills out onto a new external display space. The western gable of the building is to be ‘sympathetically renovated’.
Andrew Black, director at Andrew Black Design, said, “We are delighted to be working with the Dundee Museum of Transport to breathe new life into a dilapidated piece of the city’s transport heritage, transforming an iconic building into a world-class transport museum that will be fit for purpose for generations to come. We now look forward to proceeding to detailed design and work starting on site in the near future.”
Dr Paul Jennings, executive director at Dundee Museum of Transport, added, “To reach the milestone of securing planning permission for our Maryfield site is incredibly exciting. The new museum will celebrate Dundee’s transport heritage but also take a look into the future of transport. Over the coming months, we will continue our fundraising efforts in order to try and deliver the new museum to an ambitious timetable.”
