Organisers who hoped to reclaim the old house of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis and turn it into a museum have conceded that they will not meet the purchase price.

Campaigners launched a crowd-funding site to raise £150,000 to purchase the terrace on Barton Street, Macclesfield, to transform it into a museum dedicated to Ian and his illustrious music career.

The two-bedroom property, in which the singer lived with his wife Deborah and their daughter Natalie until his early death in 1980, was marketed for £115,000.

But in a fortnight only £1,920 has been raised, with 27 days left to go to raise more than £148,000.

The campaign’s organiser, Zak Davies, has said if it does fail all donations received will be passed on to the mental health charity Mind.

But disappointment among fans could be curbed by news of plans for a new initiative in honour of the group.

Macclesfield’s Incubation Arts is in the process of raising funds to purchase Charles Roe House on Chestergate for a permanent exhibition to the group.

An image of how Incubation Arts' exhibition could look at Charles Roe House.

The social enterprise company, which is in the process of becoming a charity, is managed by Julie Hamer and Jeff Teasdale.

Julie said: “We are currently going to the Heritage Lottery and will be talking to the Arts Council to try and get the funding, as well as starting a separate fundraising campaign in the next week or two. We are being supported by Cheshire East Council, Make it Macclesfield as well as other local organisations.

“In Charles Roe House we will have other exhibitions going on but the Joy Division aspect will be the anchor. We also plan on having music and art performances within the building as we would like to support the creativity in the town.

“There may also be a recording studio in the building’s basement.”