The future use of Bangor Castle is to go open for consultation as the local council announces it is to move out of the Victorian landmark after 73 years in attendance.
Ards and North Down Borough Council has started what it describes as “a significant rationalisation” of its office estate, which will relocate around 420 employees to a single, modern, fit-for-purpose office building in Bangor city centre.
Currently, the council operates from multiple administrative buildings, many of which it says are inefficient to use, operate, and maintain. The new office will involve hybrid working, requiring around 50 percent less office space than the current footprint.
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The council says: “The move aims to promote better collaboration between council services, provide efficiencies, increase footfall to support existing businesses, offer the potential for shared service delivery with other key public sector agencies, and act as a catalyst for economic growth and city centre regeneration.”
This raises big questions for the future use of Bangor Castle. The building was designed by the Scottish architect William Burn in the Jacobethan style, completed in 1852, for the Hon Robert Edward Ward, who served as the High Sheriff of Down and was a brother of the third Viscount Bangor.
The 35 bedroom mansion, known for its large recital room, stayed within the Ward family and passed to their in-laws, the Clanmorriss’ during the First World War. Bangor Borough Council bought the castle and grounds in 1941, the music salon was converted into a council chamber, and the council, which had previously been based in Main Street, relocated to the castle in 1952.
The building continued to serve as the headquarters of the borough council and, after local government reorganisation in 1973, it went to become the meeting place of North Down Borough Council. This council merged with Ards Borough Council in 2015 and the building then became the meeting place of the combined authority.
The gardens, designed by the Ward family in the 1840s, have won many awards for their outstanding blooms and are open to the public. The building also hosts the North Down Museum.
The Castle became known as the 'Town Hall', and then when Bangor received city status in 2022, some began to refer to it as Bangor “City” Hall.
Last year, the council appointed global consultants Barker Langham to explore viable options for the future use of Bangor Castle and develop a preferred option, culminating in the production of outline business cases for Bangor Castle and North Down Museum.
The consultants have established an initial shortlist of five options, including a boutique hotel and events centre, a larger hotel and events centre, a creative hub and cultural arts centre, a small business workspace, or a small business workspace and museum.
Some options include retaining the North Down Museum in its current location, while others propose utilising the full footprint of the castle for the museum and even extending the footprint, while taking into account the heritage of the Castle and park.
For options that do not include the retention of the museum, a separate outline business case is being developed to explore future location options for the museum.
Susie McCullough, Chief Executive of Ards and North Down Borough Council, said: “This rationalisation project is a significant step forward for the council. By moving to a modern, efficient office space, we are not only improving our operational effectiveness but also supporting local businesses and fostering new opportunities for growth in the area.
“The future of Bangor Castle and North Down Museum is a key part of this vision, and we are committed to finding the best possible outcomes for this historic site which will in turn benefit our ratepayers."
The identification of a preferred working option for the Castle will be reported to the council in the early part of 2025. Following this, the proposals will be presented to stakeholders before the final outline business case is presented in the summer.
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