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 development options. 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.

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.

Pleasley Pit, Derbyshire
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 to ensure that the project could be delivered.

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.

Snibston Museum, Coalville, Leicestershire
Snibston is a leading museum managed by Leicestershire County Council. Working with the 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. Work included a significant element of consultation to ensure that future development initiatives met the needs of existing and ‘missed’ audiences.

We were also commissioned to prepare an Evaluation Plan to support a funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Ebbsfleet Valley, Kent
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, inspire visitors and generate revenue. Different options reviewed included introducing a visitor facility, interpretation and education offers.

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.