Council extends museum lease to secure its future

Worcester Council has extended the lease of a historic museum in the city to 999 years to help secure its long-term future.

Officials hope that the “unusual” extension will allow staff at the Tudor House Museum to make long-term plans.

A report for the authority’s policy and resources committee warns that the extension can not be used to set a precedent for other council leases.

Paul Griffith, chairman of Worcester Municipal Charities, which will hold the new lease, said the extension would give the two charities that run the museum, Worcester Heritage and Amenity Trust, the confidence to continue investing time and money.

"We already have plans to build a new visitors and education centre behind the museum and need to start raising the funds to pay for it," he added.