The Ulster Folk Museum is to get a major new upgrade with a host of new buildings and landscaping planned for the County Down attraction.
Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Planning Committee this week approved a suite of changes for the popular museum, at Bangor Road, Holywood.
The upgrade involves the erection of a new arrival and welcome building, called the “Culture Hub,” a new collection and exhibition building, called the “Industry Zone,” and a new staff and volunteer hub. There will be an extension to the existing Ballycultra building, for collections, storage space and a new sustainable energy centre.
Site plan for the Town Area.
Site plan for the Rural Area.
A new pavilion building will be erected and there will be new landscaping within the “town” area, as well as landscaping improvements across the museum estate including new pedestrian walkways and interpretation signage. The plan also involves alterations to existing buildings for new learning facilities and craftwork spaces within the town.
There will also be new car and bicycle parking areas, and the demolition of the Dungannon Store facility, the entrance ticket kiosk, staff portacabins and Carrigan’s Sawmill.
The upgrade is expected to cost in the region of £50 million, and the museum is hoping to increase the current visitor figures of 80,000 per annum to 243,000 persons per annum. The project has already attracted just over £1 million support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The new Culture Hub.
There were no objections to the application from the public or any of the relevant statutory agencies. The council received seven letters of support, and council planning officers recommended approval of the plan to councillors. The application was passed unanimously.
Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI, told the council:
“The Ulster Folk Museum was established almost 60 years ago to preserve and interpret the ways of life of the people of Ulster, that could be traced back over centuries, but were fast disappearing.
“From the outset, and the very heart of the museum was a strong community spirit, and it sought to play an important role in society, most notably through cross community initiatives in a time of increasing conflict and division.
'The Hearth of the Museum' - Inspiring welcome space, displaying the breadth of the Ulster Folk Collection.
Cafe/Shop... Interiors reflective of the crafted, natural materials seen throughout museum.
“In more peaceful and prosperous times, the museum has more recently established a reputation as a great day out experience, and many families and school children are able to fondly recall visits to the sweet shop and the smell of freshly baked soda bread.
“However, changing consumer trends, coupled with a lack of investment, has led to a slow decline in the museum experience, which we must now address. Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the museum, and brings a very exciting opportunity for us to establish- its relevance.
“We are calling this process its “reawakening.” This is the time for the museum to renew its commitment to exploring shared heritage and cultural diversity to support peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
Event Spaces and Group Rooms... Flexible, welcoming spaces for all visitors and community groups.
Orientation Gallery... Living, Making, Growing - Displays of heritage skills and crafts, stories told by diverse voices in communal dialogue.
“To use its knowledge and past to provide lessons for the future, at a time of environmental crisis, helping people to learn how we can live more sustainably and in harmony with nature. To provide new ways to participate and support healthy lives for all, at a time of increased isolation, anxiety, and disconnection.
“The project will deliver significant benefits, not only in terms of economic development in terms of job creation and increased tourism to Ards and North Down area, but also in terms of wider societal outcomes.
“Through the project we will seek to transform how people perceive the museum, from a fondly remembered visitor attraction worth a visit every now and again, to an inspirational and dynamic heritage resource, where there are a multitude of ways to get involved and connect with its purpose throughout the year.”
View towards Market Garden... An external orientation and activity space - bringing the rural to the town.
View towards Market... Garden from Tea Lane.
The council planning report states:
“The proposal meets the regional strategic objectives for tourism including facilitating sustainable tourism development in an environmentally sensitive manner, and will support a vibrant rural community supporting high quality tourism development, which contributes to the growth of the regional economy.
“The proposal for the extension of an existing tourist amenity does not harm the rural character, landscape quality or environmental integrity of the surrounding area. Whilst the extension of existing buildings is not feasible as desired under this policy this is outweighed by the fact that the proposal for the expansion of this facility will significantly boost the tourism economy.
“The new buildings respect the scale, design and materials of existing buildings including any architectural or historic interest they may have.
View of Industry Zone from Market Garden... A showcase for the national Industrial Collection.
Upper Mezzanine Gallery... Living Through Industrialisation in Ulster, engaging displays on how industry impacts home life.
Industry Hall... An impressive double height hall for the long-awaited re-display of the indusrty Collection.
“The proposal includes appropriate boundary treatments and the entire site is screened from public view due to mature vegetation. The associated infrastructure and landscaping arrangements are of high quality and assist in the promotion of sustainability and biodiversity.
“It will not detract from the existing built form or surrounding character and will not adversely impact on the amenity of nearby residents due to the significant distance of 250 metres to the nearest resident with intervening bands of mature trees and vegetation.”
It adds: “The proposal will lead to a slight loss of open space. However, the proposed development is considered an exception to policy, given that it has been clearly demonstrated that the proposal will bring substantial community benefits and other areas of open space are retained within the overall site.”
Industry Activity Yard... An engaging external space for events and activities connected with the industrial displays.
Spaces for Learning & Engagement.
Family Craft Hall... New hands-on ways to engage with traditional crafts.
Craft Workshop... Flexible space with a focus on food - connections to nature / traditions and the Rural Area.
Learning Courtyard
New Learning Spaces... Flexible, engaging spaces for individuals, small groups and large parties.