New Dundee Transport Museum gets green light as former Maryfield tram depot to be transformed

The former Maryfield tram depot has been given the green light to be transformed into the new Dundee Transport Museum.

The charity, which is currently based in Market Street, bought the former Victorian transport hub in 2015 with a view of redeveloping it into a new museum to house their growing collection of motoring history.

Dundee City Council approved plans for building work to begin at a meeting earlier this week.

Paul Jennings from Dundee Transport Museum told STV News: “The project is split into two phases. So phase one is the relocation of the museum itself, that’s into this section of the building.

“The first half of the building was built in 1901, that’s the year (the ship RRS) Discovery was built in the city and it’s really interesting to think about Dundee in that time.

“So the initial focus and hopefully, and very ambitiously, for next spring is to move the museum from its current location to the building here.

“The real focus of the building is the 1901 section of the building and we’ve got interesting plans for the other part of the building, which includes community spaces.”

The former depot has been vacant for a number of years, and while there were some concerns around issues such as increased traffic, Joy Melville from the Stobswell Forum told STV News the local community is feeling positive about the development.

“Generally people are really supportive of it,” she said. “Why wouldn’t you be? It’s a fantastic opportunity but obviously there are small concerns about the levels of traffic and the trees.

“I don’t think there’s anything that can’t be overcome and the museum is really willing to work with the community to address any concerns.

“The regeneration that’s going on across Dundee is amazing. There’s lots going on in Stobswell and Maryfield and this is just the icing on the cake.

“It’s another fantastic venue, something for people to do people to come and see. Dundee is just on the up and up and it’s great that Stobswell and Mayfield are a part of that.”

However, the team at the museum have just passed the starting line of the project as they now need to raise £5m to complete the work.

One of their supporters has gifted them a classic Porche 911 to be auctioned off to raise funds for their new museum.

It’s hoped the first phase of moving the current museum to the new Stobswell base will be completed by spring next year.