The first sod has been cut on the £13.6m redevelopment of Bath’s Holburne Museum of Art.

When it reopens, the Holburne will house a collection of fine and decorative arts, and will be fully accessible for the first time. A new garden café will also be built.

The scheme has already received £10.6m of funding, comprising grants form the Heritage Lottery Fund, Lord and Lady Sainsbury’s Linbury Trust and Bath and North East Somerset Council, as well as private donations.

Alexander Sturgis, director of the Holburne, said: “At long last we are underway on a project that will create a wonderful new building for Bath and the region as well as a place of enjoyment and excitement.

“The Holburne is already a much loved museum and when finished, this project will allow us to welcome even more people of all ages and interests.”

Work on the project, which was designed by architect Eric Parry, will officially begin on 30 March and be carried out Sir Robert McAlpine.

The development programme is expected to take two years to complete.