AMBITIOUS plans to expand and open the Science Museum at Wroughton to the public could soon become a reality.

The Science Museum Group, which runs the museum on the former airfield, propose to build a brand-new collection management facility which would transform how they manage, care for and share their world-leading collection of more than 350,000 historic objects.

Currently, the Wroughton site homes around 35,000 3D and 500,000 2D objects from the national collection within nine former aircraft hangars. The collection ranges from the first hovercraft to MRI scanners, and science publications to de-activated nuclear missiles.

But now, the team at the museum want to hear the views from locals in the village and those further afield about the proposal to expand which is their single largest project for 20 years.

The new facility building will become home to more than 340,000 objects, enabling the Science Museum Group to improve and speed up the process of preparing objects for loan to other organisations or at their other museums in London, York, Manchester, Bradford and Shildon.

The site would open regularly to the public once complete through a varied programme of tours, learning and research visits.

In the pre-planning documents, it says: “There is no doubt that the development proposal will raise the profile of the site, Wroughton and Swindon, as a location of international significance in the heritage sector.

“The delivery of a purpose-built collections management facility, which is of national importance, would secure tangible benefits for Wroughton and the wider Borough and represents a significant case in favour of the application proposal.

“The site is currently not open to the public due to the increased risks presented by the failing 1940s infrastructure and the lack of circulation space due to the compression of the stores to enable additional collections to be accommodated.”

The Science Museum Group has occupied the site since 1980 and if the new plans are given the green light, it is hoped around 15,000 people will visit per year.

As a result of the new facility, around 30 new jobs will be created.

Two public information sessions will be held in Wroughton and Swindon next week to gather people’s views and Matt Moore, Head of the Science Museum Group’s site at Wroughton hopes the village and town get onboard.

He said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Wroughton to become home to the world-renowned Science Museum Group Collection. Our ambitious project involves investing in new facilities for the collection, which will open regularly to the public.

“Everything from record-breaking aeroplanes to X-ray machines are part of the collection, and together these objects tell the story of our world. Some of these objects can be seen in our five museums across the country, but sadly there is not room for the whole collection to be on display.

“That is why we are investing in a purpose-built collection management facility at our existing Wroughton site, where we can manage and care for over 80 per cent of our collection. Once built, this new home for our collection will be open regularly to the public, schools and researchers.”

Residents in Wroughton can look over the plans on Monday, November 27 from 2pm to 7pm in the Ellendune Community Centre.

The proposals will also go on display at the Wyvern Theatre on Wednesday, November 29 from 2pm to 7pm.

The Science Museum Group will then submit a full planning application to Swindon Borough Council in December.