Galgorm Castle £14m restoration plan submitted for boutique hotel and cultural venue

Aerial overview including proposed changes at Galgorm Castle, Ballymena

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has received a full planning application for the restoration of Galgorm Castle for hotel use, as part of a £14 million investment.

The proposed development at the estate outside Ballymena includes the restoration of the stables and courtyard for hotel use, an extension to the outer courtyard building, and the change of use of existing business units to hotel accommodation, alongside the construction of a new support building.

Plans also include the restoration of the walled garden and castle pond, with a new restaurant to be built; the restoration of a church for use as an exhibition and 60-seat performance space; and the restoration and extension of the Ploughman’s House for exhibition use and a 120-seat performance space, including an external spectator area.

Associated works include access improvements, parking provision, and landscaping.

Galgorm Castle

The application has been submitted by an agent on behalf of former North Antrim MP Ian Paisley Jr, who is chair of trustees of Galgorm Castle Education and Preservation Ltd, the organisation acting as custodian of the site.

A planning statement accompanying the application notes that Galgorm Castle was constructed in the early 17th century within the outline of an earlier bawn. While the building “retains much of its seventeenth-century form”, it was “comprehensively renovated in the nineteenth century”.

“In the 1830s, the building was overhauled by its then owner, the Earl of Mount Cashell, and it was further altered by the Young family after being purchased by William Young c.1850,” the report states.

“The house has remained in the ownership of descendants of the Young family until the present day.

“It has always primarily been in residential use, although it now sits predominantly vacant.”

The statement adds that the courtyard buildings were converted into business units in the late 1980s, with additional commercial units and a garden centre operating across the wider site. Access to the estate is from Galgorm Road.

“Parking provision and landscaping are also proposed to integrate the development with the wider estate lands and its network of trails.

“The planning statement says Galgorm Castle Education and Preservation Ltd “exists to save Galgorm Castle and Estate — its buildings, landscapes and socio-cultural memory — for the benefit of the community and public in a sustainable manner”.

The Ploughman's House at Galgorm Castle Estate in days gone by. (Image courtesy of PRONI)

The Ploughman's House at present time

Proposed restoration and upgrade of The Ploughman's House at Galgorm Castle Estate

Proposed restoration and upgrade of The Ploughman's House at Galgorm Castle Estate

It adds:

“Following essential conservation works to the castle’s external fabric, the building will be leased to the Galgorm Collection to convert and operate as a boutique hotel.

“The proposed development represents the sustainable long-term use of the site, in contrast to recent temporary approvals at the castle. The development is compatible with surrounding uses; its associated infrastructure and landscaping are of high quality; and it does not have unacceptable adverse effects on natural or built heritage.”

The statement continues:

“The proposed developments represent long-term sustainable uses for the listed buildings, including the castle, stables and Ploughman’s House, which are currently vacant and in need of investment and repair.

“The development will bring the grouping of castle buildings back into a single use, while the owners of the Galgorm Castle Estate will work with existing tenants regarding relocation.

Visual of proposed restaurant on pond at Galgorm Castle Estate

Restaurant Approach from Golf Club Visual

3D View of Proposed Extension to East Side of Outer Courtyard Block

“The significant investment — estimated at approximately £14 million — is expected to deliver substantial benefits to the regional tourism industry. Given the site’s historical importance and its proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Gracehill Moravian Church Settlement, the development is anticipated to become a destination for local, national and international visitors.

“The proposal will deliver a wide range of sustainable benefits to the locality economically, socially and environmentally, including employment, rates income, visitor spend, and support for local businesses and suppliers. There are also plans to offer 20 apprenticeships in traditional skills such as joinery and stonemasonry during and after construction.”

It adds that the hotel development will also enable the delivery of community exhibition and performance spaces, contributing positively to local cultural life.

Proposal for the restored church at Galgorm Castle Estate

Commenting online, Mr Paisley said:

“Our vision is to move beyond piecemeal development and address the estate’s decline through a single, holistic and genuinely transformative plan — one that respects Galgorm’s built fabric, honours its intangible heritage, and recognises the special place it holds in the heart of the community.

“We believe the proposal achieves an exciting and carefully considered balance between commercial viability and clear, lasting public benefit.

“Galgorm Castle is a jewel in the crown of our local heritage, and this project represents a once-in-a-century opportunity to secure its future. Our proposals show how sensitive commercial activity can sit alongside environmental protection and community benefit.

“The board of directors is delighted to be part of an initiative that will ensure the estate, its buildings, landscapes, and history are enjoyed long into the future, nurturing local culture and creating jobs.

“The reinstatement of original paths, trails and gardens will also connect the castle to its wider landscape, improving links with Gracehill and providing natural amenities for the community to use and enjoy.

“Our aspiration is for Galgorm Castle and Estate to become a world-class destination, welcoming creative artists and performing groups from across the community, the country and further afield, while also serving as a driver of sustainable local economic growth.

“We want the estate’s landscape, trails and historic setting to be enjoyed by visitors and locals alike, and for Galgorm to act as a beacon that attracts further investment, partnership and opportunity into the area.”