A exhibition space that could be home to a future Joy Division museum will open in May, it has been revealed.

Incubation Arts, a social enterprise company, is in the process of raising funds to buy Charles Roe House on Chestergate. The 18th century townhouse, on the corner of Chestergate and Churchill Way, will focus on the history of Charles Roe who was instrumental in establishing the silk industry in Macclesfield.

But it has now been revealed a whole floor will be occupied by a changing and evolving exhibition devoted to Joy Division, giving thousands of Joy Division fans from across the world a cultural home they can visit, both online and in person.

Organisers also hope to build a recording studio in the basement.

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.”

A team of fundraisers had hoped to reclaim the old house of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis and turn it into a museum, but have since conceded that they will not meet the purchase price.

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.

Campaign organiser Zak Davies has said if it does fail all donations received will be passed on to the mental health charity Mind.