Samuel Stevenson appointed as Design Team for new Citizen Hub

Released: 9 June 2025

Ards and North Down Borough Council has appointed Samuel Stevenson & Sons as the Design Team for the development of its £10M Citizen Hub in Newtownards - an exciting project that will modernise public service delivery in the town.

The project will redevelop (through a new build) the existing Queen's Hall into a multifunctional arts centre and community venue. This will include a bookable performance space to seat 250 and new facilities for the Council's Arts Service (currently based in Newtownards Town Hall). Working in partnership with Libraries NI, the new building will also provide space for an expanded, modern library. 

Subsequently, Newtownards Town Hall (the current Arts Centre) will revert to a more traditional civic building where day-to-day transactions such as renewing licences and registrations can take place. Ards Visitor Information Centre (VIC) will move into the Town Hall, providing a more centrally located facility for visitors. Brewery Court, the current space occupied by Ards VIC, would be transformed as a new home for Ards Billiards Club, providing better and more accessible facilities for the club.

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum, commented:

"The appointment of Samuel Stevenson to start design work on the Citizen Hub is good news for Newtownards. We want the town to have new inspirational and flexible facilities and, working with Libraries NI, we have exciting plans under development. We will benefit greatly from Samuel Stevenson's considerable experience and innovative approach and look forward to them working with local groups to understand the needs of users as they ensure we have the most effective and impactful design to take forward to planning." 

Dr Jim O'Hagan, Libraries NI Chief Executive, spoke of the project:

"Libraries NI welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with Ards and North Down Borough Council, the Department for Communities and the Design Team to progress the proposals for the redevelopment of Newtownards Library as part of the Council's Citizen Hub project."

Samuel Stevenson has started work on the project undertaking site visits and surveys. In the coming months, the team will be engaging with users of the buildings to get a fuller understanding of local needs. It is anticipated that a planning application for the Citizen Hub will be submitted Spring/Summer 2026.

Olivia Laughlin, Architect, from Samuel Stevenson & Sons said:

"Our team at Samuel Stevenson & Sons are delighted to be working on the delivery of a flagship facility for Newtownards to meet community needs now and in the future. We look forward to working with Ards and North Down Borough Council and Libraries NI along with local groups and communities to ensure that the new Queen's Hall building is of high design quality along with being functional, adaptable and welcoming to all."

For more information on this project and the Council's wider office rationalisation plans please go to www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/regeneration.