Plans for million pound transport museum development could be submitted at “Christmas time”

The land was used for the first time in July at the museum's Eastern Coach Works weekend. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

At the end of 2016, the East Anglia Transport Museum (EATM) in Carlton Colville acquired five acres of land situated beside its current base.

The museum's management committee have spent the last few months discussing how the space can be utilised and formulating plans for a million pound development that would see the museum site almost double in size.

With designs with being drawn up and the necessary tests conducted to assess the land's suitability for hosting such a vast project, it is now hoped that the proposal can be sent off for council approval during the upcoming festive period.

Stewart Eteson, who belongs to the museum committee, explained that the planning process is very much in its final stages.

It is hoped that the plans will be submitted during the Christmas period. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

'Our hope is that we will be able to submit the plans before Christmas time - either just before or just after,' said Mr Eteson.

'The plans are all drawn up and it's now a case of fine-tuning and sorting out a few final issues.

'However, we're under no illusions that things like this take time and will continue to take time after we've submitted our application.'

As part of the expansion, several new buildings including a railway station would be constructed, and the existing tram and trolleybus would extend onto the new site.

The land was used for the first time in July at the museum's Eastern Coach Works weekend. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Archant)

There is also a plan for the EATM, which is a registered charity, to increase its car parking facilities and create more space for vehicle rallies.

Although building work is not yet under way, the land was used for the first time in July at the Eastern Coach Works weekend and Mr Eteson added that a successful summer has put the museum in a strong position to move forward.

'We had a very good summer reason. Attendance was up and that has generated us some extra funds for the project,' he said.

'We're now anxious to improve the rides and establish new tracks and roadways as soon as possible.

'Buildings will obviously take a little longer to construct but we're going to get moving as fast as we can.'

For more information about the EATM, visit eatransportmuseum.co.uk.