The Avro Heritage Museum has secured approval for its expansion, confirming a £10 million hangar expansion at Woodford, strengthening Avro aircraft preservation in the UK.
New hangar to transform the site
The project was approved by Stockport Council on Jan. 22, 2026, and will allow the museum to grow its exhibition space, improve visitor access and protect historically important aircraft. Several Avro aircraft now kept in storage will move into a permanent home at the Avro Heritage Museum expansion, allowing the public to see parts of the collection for the first time.
The expansion centres on a new purpose-built hangar at Woodford. The building, designed by Williams Architecture, will be significantly larger than the museum’s current converted fire station.
The new hangar will be designed to display full-size aircraft and support long-term conservation work. It will also allow visitors to see aircraft up close, rather than viewing them outdoors or in temporary settings.
Once completed, the Woodford aviation museum expects annual visitor numbers to rise from around 13,000 to 20,000, highlighting growing interest in Britain’s aviation and aerospace history.
Interactive displays will trace Avro’s history, from early wooden aircraft to Cold War jet bombers, with a focus on engineering, design and manufacturing.
Aircraft emerging from storage
A key part of the £10 million hangar expansion at Woodford is bringing aircraft that have spent years in storage into public view.
Confirmed aircraft include:
- Avro Shackleton AEW.2: built at Woodford in 1954, the large maritime patrol aircraft was once displayed in Manchester but has been out of public view for many years.
- Avro 707C: a rare 1950s delta-wing research aircraft used to test ideas that later shaped the Vulcan bomber and Concorde.
The museum has also said future displays may include an Avro Anson and a de Havilland Gipsy Moth, depending on restoration progress and funding.
Current exhibits and 2026 events
While work continues on the expansion, visitors can still explore the museum, which will host several events in 2026 as part of the planned expansion.
Key attractions include Avro Vulcan XM603, the only Vulcan preserved worldwide in its original all-white anti-flash nuclear deterrent paint scheme and a centrepiece of Avro aircraft preservation in the UK.
Visitors can also experience a Lancaster Bomber virtual reality exhibit using original BBC wartime audio, along with cockpit access to aircraft including the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2, Vickers VC10 and English Electric Canberra TT18.
Events confirmed for 2026 include an Avro Heritage Centre Nightshoot on Feb.7, showcasing the illuminated Vulcan XM603 and the Avro 707C. The Wings and Wheels Weekend will take place on July 11 and 12, featuring a Saturday Lancaster flypast and a rare view of the Avro Shackleton AEW.2 during restoration. The Northern Jaguar Show on Aug. 23, and a summer car club photoshoot are also planned.
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