PLANS have been submitted to carry out the major redevelopment at Trowbridge Museum which has been in the pipeline for several years.

If Wiltshire Council accepts the planning application the museum, located in The Shires, will expand into the floor above with a glass elevator while the downstairs floor will undergo a drastic overhaul.

A £100,000 grant was given to the museum at the end of 2015 by the Heritage Lottery Fund and a second application for funding is set to be made, with the overall project expected to cost in the region of £2.5 million.

Museum curator Clare Lyall said: “It’s a very exciting time for us.

“The plans include a new lift which will give better access to the whole museum. People with buggies and mobility scooters will be able to easily access the top floor, which is going to be completely redeveloped with views over the centre of Trowbridge.

“The glass elevator will also give people the opportunity to see the old brickwork of the museum which is truly fascinating.

“If we want to attract more tourism to the town, we need to invest in things such as the museum; we need to highlight things of significance.

"Trowbridge has a unique textile story and this refurbishment will enable us to tell it in even more detail."

Work is expected to begin in January 2017 if planning permission is granted.