Flintshire’s rich industrial heritage to be uncovered if planning officers give nod on ambitious Greenfield Valley project

Greenfield Valley Heritage Park is set to undergo a major upgrade which will see it become one of Flintshire’s premier tourist attractions if planning permission is granted by council planning officers.

An application has been submitted for ‘Greenfield Uncovered’ a project which reveal the hidden history of the Flintshire area and the people who lived and worked there.

At its heart of the planning application is the role that Greenfield played in the industrial revolution, which has shaped the world, as we know it today.

The historic 70-acre site has been awarded £940,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the project which it is estimated will cost up £1.3m in total.

The proposed works will improve access through better pathways and redesigned entrances.

If the plans are approved the Visitor Reception building will be extended and remodelled, offering improved visitor flow into the site.

There will be refurbishment and repair of historic buildings and the creation of new flexible and interactive ‘interpretation’ within the existing pay boundary.

Site signage, orientation and interpretation, including the use of digital media will improve access to the wider site and uncover its fascinating history.

An activity leader will be employed for three years to recruit and train up to 40 volunteers, who will develop new skills, take part in community-based projects and deliver activities across the whole site.

Many of the activities will provide further resources and ways of interpreting the heritage for other visitors, for example memories gathered during an oral history project will be accessed through an audio point in the museum and drama workshop participants will animate the historical spaces.

Training will be provided, enabling volunteers to learn, demonstrate and share traditional skills, lead guided tours and facilitate creative work inspired by the site’s powerful heritage.

The interpretation will include redisplayed collections, hands-on interactive models, touchscreen interactives, large format film and browsing material using archival evidence and living memory.

Additional marketing activity and publicity as well as website improvements are included in the costs of the project.

It’s expected the Greenfield Valley Uncovered Project will help increase visitor number by 30% to 39,000 a year.

Design and Access Statement