Heritage |
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Countryside Estate
England |
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We were commissioned to assess the potential of introducing self-catering eco-lodges within a traditional country estate in southern England. Our work focused on carrying out a site review, a market assessment, identifying the optimum number of lodges the site could accommodate along with the key product requirements, setting out capital costs and preparing a detailed financial model including a cash flow analysis. |
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Ebbsfleet
Kent |
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Working alongside landscape architects and archaeologists we carried out a market review to assess the viability of introducing visitor facilities based upon the history and archaeological heritage of the area, which focused on different periods of British history including the Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. The objectives included identifying ways to engage with the local community, improve access and inspire visitors. Different options reviewed included introducing a visitor facility, interpretation and education offers. |
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Great Central Railway
Midlands |
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We were commissioned to review and make recommendations on the operation of the Great Central Rail. Our project reviewed the tourism and visitor attraction sectors to identify the key trends; bench-marked a number of steam railways in the UK to pinpoint examples of best practice and future opportunities and carried out a business review setting out potential opportunities for the attraction. |
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Heritage branding
North Wales |
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The Wales Tourist Board, Welsh Development Agency and six counties in North Wales commissioned Planning Solutions to assess the potential to introduce a pan North Wales brand based upon Arthurian legend. The study involved analysing case studies, an extensive consultation exercise, market assessment and brand assessment.
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Hylton Castle and Dene
Sunderland |
Working with Sunderland City Council, Castle in the Community and Friends of Hylton Dene we were commissioned to develop future scenarios for Hylton Castle and prepare a business case for the preferred development scenario. This builds upon our earlier work which involved jointly preparing an Audience Development Plan.
Hylton Castle is compromised of two buildings, a former four storey gatehouse, which was built by Sir William Hylton in the 14th Century and St Catherine’s Chapel which we understand was built in the 15th Century. The gatehouse and chapel are both Grade 1 listed structures and the gatehouse, chapel and grounds are designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Our work included carrying out a wide ranging consultation exercise, competitive and market review, options appraisal, preparing a trading profile, advising on management options and carrying out a risk assessment. In terms of developing the options is was very important to ensure that proposals reflected the sensitive nature of the overall site and the keen interest of the local community.
Our work included carrying a wide ranging consultation exercise, competitive and market review, options appraisal, preparing a
trading profile, advising on management options and carrying out a risk assessment.
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| Museums and an Archive Centre, Somerset |
Working with the Museum Development Officer for Somerset, PSCL was commissioned to work with eight museums including Axbridge & District Museum Trust, Blake Museum, the Community Heritage Access Centre, Helicopter Museum, Somerset Military Museum, Somerset Rural Life Museum, Watchet Market House Museum and Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum.
Museums are facing a challenging market place, particularly with cuts to government funding.
The objective of our work was to identify opportunities to increase visitor numbers (including education visits) increase income, reduce costs and enhance the existing visitor experience. We carried out a detailed programme of market research and a consultation exercise including visits to each museum. Working with stakeholders we helped to identify new opportunities to increase visitor numbers, generate additional revenue and broaden market appeal.
Individual action plans for each museum were developed to help realise the opportunities. We also developed resource material to help support the museum volunteers and staff, covering a diverse range of topics for example, Gift Aid, marketing museums, insurance, operational efficiencies, governance etc. We also managed a grant funding scheme as part of the wider project.
As part of the work we were asked to present at the Museums in Somerset Meeting to provide an overview of our work to key stakeholders and interested parties. |
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| National Brewery Centre |
Working with our sister company we identified an opportunity to re-open the former Bass Museum (Coors Visitor Centre) as an innovative heritage visitor attraction. Re-opened as the National Brewery Centre (May 2010) the visitor attraction merges traditional forms of interpretation with new technology to create a popular family destination. There is also a significant corporate / functions offer. Our work focussed on preparing a business plan to support the project. |
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| Palmerston’s Gunboat Shed, Gosport |
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Completed a site appraisal and viability assessment for a mixed use site in Gosport. The study included a detailed appraisal of the local economy, competing tourism facilities and extensive consultation with potential user groups to deliver an innovative and sustainable solution. |
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Pleasley Pit
East Midlands |
In a multi-disclipinary team with Arup and architects Faulks Perry Culley & Rech, PSCL was commissioned by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) to carry out a feasibility study for the regeneration of Pleasley Colliery, a Schedule Ancient Monument. We were subsequently commissioned to prepare a financial model and identify potential management options for the project.
The purpose of our study was to formulate a masterplan and development strategy for the disused colliery which would see the heritage asset restored in a sympathetic manner to realise the ambitions of a Friends Group, the local community and visitors. The development strategy identified ways to improve access, introduce interpretation and revenue generating opportunities including an appropriately sized cafe, a retail area and guided tours.
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| Robin Hood Experience, Nottingham |
Working our sister company we carried out an operational review and prepared a business plan to re-open a Robin Hood experience in Nottingham. Our work included a market assessment, review of operational characteristics of the former Robin Hood attraction, development strategy and preparing a detailed 10 year trading profile and cashflow projection. |
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Sheerness Docks
Kent |
We carried out a review of the tourism and leisure markets to identify the options for leisure / tourism development within the working Port of Sheerness. We were part of a multi-disciplinary team contributing towards a larger master planning exercise. Our work programme needed to balance the needs of the current commercial operation, restoring a range of important historic built structures with the potential to increase access to this valuable heritage resource. |
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| Snibston - Evaluation Plan, Leicestershire |
We were commissioned along with Rubicon Regeneration to prepare an Evaluation Plan to support a funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
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| Snibston – Market Feasibility Study and Operational Review, Leicestershire |
Snibston is a leading mining heritage attraction managed by Leicestershire County Council.
Working with internal project team we were commissioned to carry out a market feasibility study and operational review to support a funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
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| St Albans Cathedral |
Working with Nick Stead a heritage consultant our work focused on advising the client on the Heritage Lottery Fund as part of a wider project. The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban is one of the most significant ecclesiastical buildings in Britain. St Albans Cathedral is a Grade I listed building, it is also within the Abbey Conservation Area and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. St Albans Cathedral is the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain. |
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Strategic Tourism Development Advice
Macedonia and Thrace, Northern Greece |
Working with the British Council to provide a tourism strategy and action programme for this relatively unchartered area of Eastern Europe. In particular investigating the potential for sustainable cultural and heritage tourism along with specialist activity based holidays. We presented our recommendations to representatives from the State Tourism Ministry. |
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Strategic Tourism Development and Promotional Advice
Sibiu, Romania |
Sibiu, Romania
Liaising with the British Council and the Local Government of Sibiu, a county in Romania, we provided strategic development and promotional advice to develop and market Sibiu's unique tourism product to both the domestic and international markets. We explored opportunities based around specialist cultural and heritage tourism, as well as winter sports set within the wider framework of rural and urban development.
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