The National Railway Museum is set to move ahead with its long-planned Central Hall development after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an additional £3 million of government funding for the project.

Central Hall will form the centrepiece of the transformed museum and is expected to support visitor growth while showcasing the past, present and future of Britain’s railways. The project also forms a key element of the wider York Central regeneration programme, which is redeveloping former railway land into a mixed-use city quarter.

Designed by award-winning architects Feilden Fowles, the circular building draws inspiration from historic locomotive roundhouses. It will provide step-free access throughout the museum and house new exhibition spaces, including Railway Futures: The Porterbrook Gallery, which explores innovation and emerging rail technologies.

The funding builds on support provided by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport in 2019 and will help cover rising costs associated with the complex process of stopping up Leeman Road, which previously divided the museum site. The investment allows the museum, part of the Science Museum Group, to sign its main construction contract within days and begin major works.

“Thanks to the Prime Minister’s announcement today we can look forward to signing the contract for our ambitious Central Hall project within days, with construction beginning next month. By investing in the museum’s transformation, the Government is not only supporting changes that will engage hundreds of thousands more visitors with Britain’s railway heritage, it is also driving growth and opportunity for the city of York and the wider region.”

Director Craig Bentley.