Client: North West Leicestershire District Council

The site incorporates the Moira Furnace Museum, located within a former blast furnace (a Scheduled Monument). It also has associated workings, lime kilns, an attractive woodland plantation, a network of trails, play area and open grassland. The site with its landmark structure is one of the key sites where industrial heritage remains visible and accessible to visitors. The Ashby Canal passes through the site and the Furnace Museum also manages the Joseph Wilkes, a popular passenger canal boat. The wider country park includes a café along with a cluster of business units in a courtyard.

Planning Solutions Consulting were commissioned to carry out an operational review, market assessment and options appraisal to identify and evaluate future opportunities to enhance the visitor offer, engage with the market and build financial resilience for Moira Furnace Museum and Country Park. A range of options were assessed from enhancing the museum experience, developing the visitor offer within the country park through to introducing low impact visitor accommodation and building organisational capacity. Our work included carrying out a programme of extensive stakeholder consultation and primary research among visitors and the local community. Working closely with the Council and Moira Furnace Trust we prepared a development strategy, under key categories, for this important heritage and recreation site. A supporting concept plan was also produced. There was a need to ensure that future development options were appropriate in form, scale and type to respect the special heritage and environmental qualities of the site.

How can we help?
If you have any questions or would like to discuss our work in the heritage and museum sectors please don’t hesitate to call Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk