Transforming a historic industrial site into a nationally recognised visitor attraction
Client: Lakeland Motor Museum
Conlon Construction delivered the relocation and redevelopment of the Lakeland Motor Museum, creating a purpose-designed destination that combines heritage, tourism and education within a unique riverside setting in the Lake District.
The project transformed a former Grade II listed industrial site into a modern museum complex, providing the space and facilities needed to support the museum’s growing collection and visitor numbers.
The Challenge
The development required the careful regeneration of a historic industrial site while creating a modern visitor attraction capable of housing significant automotive collections and delivering an enhanced visitor experience.
The riverside location presented additional engineering challenges, requiring robust foundations and infrastructure solutions, while the design needed to respect the character of the adjacent listed buildings and surrounding landscape.
Our Solution
Conlon delivered a comprehensive redevelopment programme including:
- Vibro pile foundations and ground beam construction
- New steel-framed exhibition hall
- High-performance external cladding systems
- Refurbishment and integration of existing heritage assets
- Visitor facilities, offices and restaurant accommodation
- Stone-faced and rendered external finishes
- Traditional slate roofing to complement the historic setting
- Underfloor heating throughout key areas
- Biomass heating system to improve sustainability and operational efficiency
- New car parking facilities
- Extensive landscaping and public realm improvements
The design created a cohesive museum destination that balances modern functionality with the heritage character of the site.
The Outcome
The completed development has provided the Lakeland Motor Museum with a significantly enhanced home, creating improved exhibition space, visitor facilities and opportunities to expand its collection and interpretation offer.
By successfully repurposing a historic industrial site, the project has preserved an important part of the area’s heritage while creating a thriving visitor attraction that continues to support tourism, education and the local economy.
Today, the museum stands as a strong example of how heritage-led regeneration can create long-term cultural and economic value for a region.
I have never been involved with a better managed project that yours at Backbarrow.