MP welcomes news that work has started on Steamboat Museum

Clearance work is underway at the Windermere Steamboat Museum site, ahead of the start of construction of the new attraction next year. South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed the news and has said he looking forward to seeing the transformation on the site.

The £13.4 million redevelopment project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), will transform the Windermere Steamboat Museum into a world-class attraction and save the internationally important collection. The capital project will create a new museum on the lake to display the internationally significant collection, connecting boats, people and stories.

The high-quality museum facilities will include a wet dock where visitors will see boats displayed on the water; collection displays where visitors can discover about the people who built the boats, who used them and how they were used; an active conservation workshop; and a dedicated learning space. New jetties will also connect people to the lake enabling visitors to arrive by boat, or take a trip on a historic launch, whilst the lakeside café will provide exceptional views across Windermere.

The Windermere Steamboat Museum is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors each year and help to further enhance the profile of the Lake District as one of the UK's leading visitor destinations.

Tim said: "Knowing that work has started to clear the site before building work begins is good news. I want to pay tribute to Gordon Watson, Martin Ainscough and the whole team at Lakeland Arts for their hard work over the last few years. I have tried to help and support them at every step of the way. I'm looking forward to the opening ceremony of the fantastic new museum."