Image: Abbey House Museum in Leeds (CC BY-SA 3.0 Jungpionier)
Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall could be closed as the council looks to address a £100m savings requirement
Leeds City Council is considering the introduction of ‘pay as you feel’ admission charges at its city centre museums and galleries, alongside plans to close Abbey House Museum, as part of measures to address a £106.4m savings requirement for 2025/26.
The proposals form part of a wider package of cost-saving measures first announced yesterday, as the council grapples with rising social care costs and increased service demands across the city.
The potential changes to museum admission policies would affect city centre cultural venues, though specific sites and implementation details have not yet been confirmed. The closure of Abbey House Museum, located in Kirkstall, is also being considered.
The museum is housed in the gatehouse of the ruined 12th-century Kirkstall Abbey, and is a Grade II* listed building. Opened in 1927, it offers a replica area of Victorian streets on its ground floor, and galleries featuring childhood collections, community-curated displays and temporary exhibitions.
These cultural service changes are among numerous measures being considered by the council, which must find £45.3 million in new savings beyond the £61.2 million already identified through previous proposals and existing financial strategy.
Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: ““Around 60 per cent of the council’s budget is spent on social care in Leeds, and the increase in council tax helps towards this. We expect to receive further detail on national initiatives to support local government towards the end of December.”
Beyond next year, the council is provisionally expecting to require a further savings of £35.2million in 2026/27 and £29.6million in 2027/28.
The initial budget proposals will be considered by the council’s executive board on 11 December 2024, followed by a public consultation period. Final proposals will be presented for full council vote in February 2025.
