Planning application for £8m Maritime Museum to be lodged

The Council’s Business and Culture Committee on Tuesday gave its approval for council officers to submit the application for the project, which, if approved, will see a major, currently unused part of the Ebrington complex transformed.

The planning application submission is costing in the region of £12,000, the committee was told, subject to the approval of the Capital Working Group.

A report by Maritime Museum Project Co-ordinator Jenny O’Donnell states that the project was being taken forward by the local authority in conjunction with Heritage Lottery Fund, Tourism NI and the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers.

It will involved the creation of a new Maritime Museum and Archive Centre at the former military base at Ebrington.

The proposal will include galleries, an archival and genealogy section and educational facilities.

The public can view the plans in advance of the application being lodged, with an event planned to facilitate this.

Architectural practice Todd Architects has been appointed to complete the Museum project, alongside design consultancy Tandem.

The Maritime Museum and Archive Centre will incorporate three listed buildings at the former British military base at Ebrington.

SDLP Councillor Tina Gardiner said she was “very glad” to see progress on the project.

“I wish it could happen sooner and quicker at Ebrington,” she said, adding:

“This sounds like a great project, and at this stage we need Ebrington to be getting used and to be getting it up and running.”