Bingham Lane
Regenerating a historic laneway as civic space at the heart of Bangor
At the historic heart of Bangor, this concept study explores how a neglected laneway between Market Square and Bingham Street could be re-energised as a vibrant cultural corridor. The proposals build on the area’s thriving arts and community networks to guide short-, medium- and long-term regeneration.
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Client: Ards and North Down Borough Council
Collaborator: MMAS
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Bingham Lane: Activating Public Life.
The Lane as Infrastructure
Working with Ards & North Down Borough Council and local partners, OGU Architects developed a strategic vision to re-energise Bingham Lane — a historic but underused laneway linking Market Square with Bangor’s emerging cultural quarter. The study combined historical research, on-site analysis, and engagement with artists, traders, and community groups to reveal how heritage buildings and creative organisations could work together to form a connected and vibrant cultural corridor.
The process began with a simple suggestion — to hold a festival as a live test of ideas. This evolved into the inaugural Bingham Lane Festival, delivered in partnership with Seacourt Print Workshop and funded by the Council. The two-day event brought the concept to life with street food, live music, craft stalls, street art and open studios, transforming the lane into a thriving destination and celebrating Bangor’s creative energy.
The resulting framework sets out a clear path for regeneration — from immediate actions such as cleaning, lighting and greening, to longer-term opportunities for adaptive reuse and new mews housing. Together, the study and the festival have strengthened collaboration between local partners, demonstrated the power of small-scale activation, and positioned Bingham Lane as a catalyst for wider town-centre renewal.
Bingham Lane Festival
“Amazing experience at the inaugural Bingham Lane Festival today. Street food, coffee, live music, craft stalls, street art and the fabulous print workshop. I took the opportunity to buy a lovely craft cushion, Strangford soap and local art.
I also managed to take a photo with the two key people behind the event - architect Chris Upson OGU Architects who produced the detailed plans for Bingham Lane, including the suggestion of a street festival, and Emma Drury Seacourt Print Workshop who was the main driver for the festival itself. Both the concept designs and festival were funded Ards and North Down Borough Council
The festival continues tomorrow 1pm to 5pm including an exciting drum display Bangor Orange Hall and a behind the scenes look at the theatre & pantomime Studio 1a Theatre, Bangor”
Councillor Chris McCracken
The initial phase of the project suggested that people get involved with beginning change and driving momentum. This led to the suggestion of a Bingham Lane festival presented to partners along the lane.
Led by Seacourt Print Workshop, the Bingham Lane Festival transformed the lane into a live trial for how the street might be regenerated a place where creative production, heritage, and public life converge. Led by Seacourt Print Workshop the council funding supported by a network of local partners along the street, the festival brought two days of music, street art, spoken word, drawing, printmaking, markets, and performance to Bangor’s historic heart.
What began as an idea within our regeneration framework the project evolved into an act of collective placemaking, testing how highlighting the lane with temporary uses can re-energise this part of the city centre. Yards and backland spaces became outdoor galleries and stages linking to historic buildings, workshops and studios. Residents and visitors were invited to explore, make and gather together - sparking interest and highlighting how this part of the city could develop.
More than an event, the festival demonstrates the power of live engagement, using creativity to reconnect people with place, and showing how small yet considered strategic actions can spark long-term civic change.
The approach demonstrated how urban plans can start with participation and meaningful engagement - trialling action and generating momentum in advance of longer term commitments.
Process
The project began with a period of site analysis and open conversation, bringing together traders, residents, and cultural partners to explore how the lane could evolve. Public engagement, supported by Ards & North Down Borough Council, invited people to share their memories, ambitions, and practical ideas — from cleaning and lighting to reusing vacant yards and buildings.
This collaborative dialogue led directly to the idea of a Bingham Lane Festival — a live prototype for the vision emerging from the study. Designed as a real-world test, the festival reconnected people with the space, revealing how temporary activation, street art, and creative enterprise could build momentum for longer-term change.
Through this process, a shared sense of ownership and optimism was established. The engagement not only shaped the regeneration framework but also demonstrated how participation, creativity, and civic pride can be the starting point for meaningful urban renewal.