Museum transformation plans approved

One of the new gallery spaces, the Growing Space exhibition, aims to encourage people to live sustainably

A Grade-II listed city centre museum is set to get new entrance and galleries after redevelopment plans were approved.

The proposals for Sunderland's Museum and Winter Gardens were revealed earlier this year after it was confirmed the library currently housed in the venue would move and free up space.

Restoration works to the roof and windows of the site will also be carried out.

A timescale for the work and a developer are yet to be confirmed.

The museum had not been renovated for more than 20 years, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

According to council plans, refurbishment was needed "to maintain current audiences, attract new visitors and for the museum in the longer term to be commercially independent".

The council's conservation officer also claimed the relocated entrance would help increase footfall to the venue.

What is planned?

Several new gallery spaces will be created at the museum.

The space will be freed up after the entrance relocates and the city library moves to the Culture House development in Keel Square in the autumn.

• Window on Wearside on the ground floor would feature "displays of star objects and new favourites, tactiles, interactives and AVs to enjoy Sunderland's story of sports, music, events and more".

• Sunderland Story, located in the soon to be vacated library, also on the ground floor, will have interactive games and "mass displays" of early archaeology, ship models and mining lanterns to help visitors connect with Sunderland's history.

• Growing Space exhibition, set to be based in the glazed area facing Burdon Road which currently houses the museum shop. According to plans, it aims to serve as a collaborative space where communities can discover how to live sustainably. It will feature a "central island tree sculpture" and live plants.

• The Hold, on the third floor, will show the city's pottery and glass collections.

Under planning conditions, the development must be brought forward within three years.