Dundee Museum of Transport set to receive additional £500,000 funding for Maryfield move
Dundee Museum of Transport is set to benefit from an additional £500,000 in funding, providing a major boost to its plans for a new home at the historic Maryfield Tram Depot!
The funding, outlined in a Dundee City Council report due to be considered next week, will help the museum further enhance its exhibition offering as it prepares for an exciting new chapter.
It builds on a previous allocation of £1.5 million, bringing the total funding allocated to the museum through the Community Regeneration Partnership programme to £2 million.
The announcement comes at an important time for the museum, which is preparing to leave its current premises at Market Mews at the end of October ahead of its planned relocation to Maryfield.
A major boost for Dundee Museum of Transport
The additional investment forms part of £3 million being reallocated through Dundee’s Community Regeneration Partnership programme, following the removal of plans for a Central Waterfront Office.
The funding will support previously approved projects across Dundee, including the museum’s ambitious plans to transform the former Maryfield Tram Depot into a new visitor attraction.
The historic depot, which dates back to 1901, is being developed as the museum’s permanent home, offering an opportunity to showcase Dundee’s transport heritage in a building with its own remarkable history.
The museum is currently preparing for its final days at Market Mews, with its last day scheduled for Saturday 31 October, before the major task of moving its collection to Maryfield.
The additional £500,000 will help strengthen the museum’s exhibition offering as it works towards welcoming visitors to its new premises.
Museum launches crowdfunder to support move to Maryfield
Alongside the major investment in its future, Dundee Museum of Transport is also calling on the public to help support its move from Market Mews to the historic Maryfield Tram Depot.
The museum has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help cover the practical costs of relocating its collection, including historic vehicles, exhibits and thousands of objects that have been part of the museum’s story over the years.
While the additional £500,000 allocation will help enhance the museum’s future exhibitions, the crowdfunder is focused on the immediate challenge of getting the museum and its collection safely to Maryfield.
With the museum preparing to close its Market Mews premises on Saturday 31 October, public support will play an important role in helping the team take the next step towards opening its new home.
Anyone wishing to support the campaign can donate through the museum’s official crowdfunder here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-us-move-the-museum-to-maryfield
Council welcomes investment in museum’s future
City Governance Committee Convener Councillor Mark Flynn welcomed the additional funding, highlighting the importance of supporting projects that benefit communities across Dundee.
He said:
“This funding is supporting the Dundee Museum of Transport as it works towards an exciting future at its new home at Maryfield Tram Depot.”
The report also outlines a further £500,000 allocation for another round of the Community Facilities Challenge Fund, which supports organisations delivering activities and opportunities for children and young people.
The wider Community Regeneration Partnership programme has received £20 million in funding for Dundee through the UK Government, having previously been known as the Levelling Up Partnership.
An exciting new chapter for Dundee’s transport heritage
For Dundee Museum of Transport, the additional investment represents another significant step towards establishing its future at Maryfield.
The move will bring the museum into a building closely connected to Dundee’s transport history, with the former tram depot set to become a new home for its collection of historic vehicles, objects and exhibits.
It also comes as the museum continues its public fundraising campaign to help cover the practical costs of relocating its collection from Market Mews.
While the newly outlined £500,000 is intended to enhance the museum’s exhibition offering, the ongoing fundraising appeal is focused on supporting the move itself.
The Capital Monitoring 2026/27 report will be considered by Dundee City Council’s City Governance Committee on Monday 26 October.
If approved as outlined, the additional funding will provide a welcome boost as Dundee Museum of Transport works towards opening the doors to its new home.
Sources
Dundee City Council - Community Regeneration funding boost to city projects: https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/news/article?article_ref=5144
