Hillsborough Castle and Gardens Visitor Facilities

Hillsborough Castle, a Grade B+ listed Georgian mansion and the official Royal Family residence in Northern Ireland, underwent a major transformation led by Consarc as lead and conservation architect. Previously managed with limited public access, the estate came under Historic Royal Palaces in 2014, with the aim of enhancing visitor engagement and creating a sustainable destination. The project delivered over 2,700m² of new and restored facilities, including a visitor centre with café, shop, and accessible amenities; restoration and extension of the listed stable yard to house visitor services and the Clore Learning Centre; and new estate management buildings with volunteer accommodation and collections storage.

The project combined careful conservation with modern operational requirements. Extensive stakeholder engagement ensured local community concerns were considered, while design solutions balanced historic preservation with improved visitor experience, universal accessibility, and sustainable design. High-quality detailing and operational readiness testing were integral throughout. The revitalisation of Hillsborough Castle earned the RICS Community Impact Project of the Year 2020 and the Landscape Institute Heritage Project of the Year 2020, establishing it as a leading example of heritage-led regeneration and inclusive public engagement.