Stourbridge Glass Museum plans approved
Stourbridge’s long-awaited state-of-the-art glass museum has been granted permission for three planning applications to create new signs and install windows.
The world-class facility to house Stourbridge’s prized collection of glass is expected to open its doors to the public on April 9, and has even registered a new website.
It had been initially referred to as the White House Cone Museum of Glass but it has now been confirmed the museum in Camp Hill, Wordsley, will be known as Stourbridge Glass Museum.
Stourbridge Glass Museum, based in the former Stuart Crystal Glassworks, in Wordsley, registered three planning applications in December last year. They were approved on Monday.
The Grade II listed building has plans including installation of window screens, ventilation screens, and three new shop signs – including a logo – at the museum.
Meanwhile, a new manager’s office and reception are also being built.
In a heritage statement, Stourbridge Glass Museum stated: “The logo has been designed by a specialist as part of the branding exercise funded by the Heritage Fund.
“The lettering will be fixed to a part of the building already overclad in aluminium and will pose no direct fixings into historic fabric.
“That being the case the fabric immediately behind the cladding formed part of the 1980s amendments to the Whitehouse Cone and do not have great significance other than to retain the form of the previous building.”
The museum also noted “decorative screens” to protect the buildings glazing.
They said: “Firstly the screens will block views into the museum allowing glass cases and exhibits more freedom of movement internally.
“Secondly it will deal with the antisocial behaviour on the canal and prevent further breakages of glazing which occurs on a regular basis.
“Fixings of the screen are to be hidden in the window reveals and into the mortar joints to prevent these being on show. As such change is easily reversible.”
No objections were raised by members of the public.
In an approval statement, Dudley Council said: “In dealing with this application the Local Planning Authority have worked with the applicant in a positive, proactive, and creative manner, seeking solutions to problems arising in relation to dealing with the application, by seeking to help the applicant resolve technical detail issues where required and maintaining the delivery of sustainable development.”
