The Royal Mint

Overview

The Royal Mint sought to create a world-class visitor centre and ‘brand experience’ to showcase its 1,100-year heritage, support the marketing of commemorative coin products, and establish a premier Welsh attraction. With an £10 million budget, part-funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, the project required careful balancing of a signature building design with high-quality exhibition and visitor facilities.

The Challenge

The initial scheme was not viable, with budget constraints and gaps in scope threatening both visitor experience and operational compatibility. Key assumptions about visitor numbers, building design, exhibition integration, and the factory tour had to be challenged to ensure long-term success.

Our Approach

We provided strategic leadership and governance by:

• Conducting a due diligence review and recommending redesign of the scheme.

• Re-establishing the professional team and engaging additional specialists.

• Leading stakeholders and designers to develop a robust Client Brief and new Concept Design.

• Securing planning permission and pre-qualifying contractors ahead of tender.

• Procuring an exhibition designer and awarding enabling works contracts.

The Outcome

With a new concept design agreed, planning secured, enabling works underway, and tenders invited, the project was positioned to meet its milestone opening in Spring 2016. The Royal Mint Visitor Centre is set to become both a cultural showcase and a driver of tourism and brand visibility for the UK’s coin producer.