Ulster Folk Museum to 'reawaken' as £50m upgrade gets the green light from planners

By Michael Kenwood
Published 10th Dec 2023, 10:49 BST
Updated 10th Dec 2023, 10:49 BST
Artist’s image of the new Cultural Hub at the Ulster Folk Museum, walking from the new car parkArtist’s image of the new Cultural Hub at the Ulster Folk Museum, walking from the new car park
Artist’s image of the new Cultural Hub at the Ulster Folk Museum, walking from the new car park
The Ulster Folk Museum is to get a major upgrade with a host of new buildings and landscaping planned for the County Down attraction.

Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Planning Committee has approved a suite of changes for the popular museum, located 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.

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There will also be an extension to the existing Ballycultra building, for collections, storage space and a new sustainable energy centre.

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.

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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.