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Planning permission granted for new archive centre

Published: 20/10/2026

A new state-of-the-art archive centre for North East Wales has moved a step closer after Flintshire County Council’s Planning Committee approved the proposal.

The new archive centre, which will be built adjacent to Theatr Clwyd in Mold, will bring together the staff and collections of Flintshire and Denbighshire archive services in a purpose-built facility designed to preserve and share the region’s rich history.

The project is being developed by Flintshire County Council and Denbighshire County Council for their joint archive service, North East Wales Archives (NEWA).

The development phase of the project was supported by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, both Local Authorities and the Welsh Government.

When completed, the archive centre will provide modern, accessible storage for historically significant collections while creating new opportunities for people to explore and connect with the heritage of the area.

Alongside the new building, the project includes an extensive community engagement programme. Meanwhile the centre’s location alongside Theatr Clwyd will see history, culture, learning and creativity brought together in one destination, with the potential to attract and engage new audiences with both venues.

Councillor Mared Eastwood, Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Welsh Language, Culture and Leisure, said: “The approval of this planning application marks a significant milestone for this exciting project. The new archive centre will safeguard our region’s historic collections and make them more accessible to residents, researchers, schools and visitors.

“This investment will also help inspire future generations to discover the stories and people that have shaped North East Wales. I am delighted to see the project moving forward.”

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Education and Children, Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage said: “We are delighted that planning permission has been granted for the new state-of-the-art archive centre for North East Wales. This marks an important milestone in creating a modern facility that will help preserve and celebrate the shared history of our communities for generations to come.

“The project is about far more than a building – it is about creating opportunities for more people to connect with the fascinating stories, collections and heritage of North East Wales. The granting of planning permission brings us another step closer to making that vision a reality.”

For anyone wishing to learn more about the service that NEWA offers or the latest news on the Creative Archives project, please visit www.newa.wales