National Park Centre takes positive step towards the future

The Peak District National Park Centres (formerly Visitor Centres) are progressing a major transformation to support their journey towards a more sustainable future, supported by an anonymous donation which was provided in 2023. This vital contribution gave the Centres a new lease of life and the opportunity to adopt a more commercial approach, with the goal of achieving long-term financial stability despite the ongoing government funding cuts and wider market pressures.

As part of this transformation, the National Park Centre at Castleton is set to undergo some development. The project will revitalise the building internally, and secure its future as a key visitor destination, while also bringing new benefits to the local community and the many visitors who come to Castleton each year.

A key element of this development involves the museum space currently operated by the Castleton Historical Society. For the past 20 years, the Authority has covered the costs of running the museum. However, in light of an increasingly challenging financial climate, this space now needs to support income generation and mitigate overheads. Providing the existing museum space rent-free, which is the equivalent to around 50% of our total retail area, is no longer a viable approach.

We have worked with Castleton Historical Society to develop a plan that continues to provide a dedicated, rent-free space for their archive and museum display, as well as a new strategic partnership that will support fundraising, promotion and improve the overall quality of the museum offering through wider partnership working. The opportunity is there to make this visitor experience more engaging and help connect people to the history and landscape of the National Park and we need committed partners to help us achieve this.

A museum offer will continue to remain a vital part of the Castleton Centre, with its aim to reflect the unique heritage and community of the Peak District that cannot be replicated by any commercial partner.