From a derelict boatyard to a community hub

Finsley Gate, Burnley

From ruin to leisure destination

The boatyard at Finsley Gate sat derelict for 30 years before opening to the public in 2021 following a £2.75m conservation project. The site has been restored and upgraded with new community-centred facilities.

Finsely Gate Wharf sits at the end of the Burnley embankment, one of the Wonders of the Waterways, and within Burnley’s Weavers Triangle. A collection of Grade II-listed buildings dating from 1801, the site was used as a canal maintenance yard until the 1980s before falling into a long period of disuse.

The Canal & River Trust appointed us in 2019 to sensitively restore the buildings whilst simultaneously creating a sustainable and economically viable future for the site. Finsley Gate is now a thriving business, offering a waterside leisure destination while promoting the heritage of the town’s industrial past.

Exterior view of Finsley Gate building from nearby lawn, with a view of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Front facade of Finsely Gate building, across the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

A sustainable community asset

Following a series of public engagement sessions during the design stage, each building was restored with community use in mind. The crumbling warehouse complex was converted to a restaurant-bar and function room. The former stable block and forge now serve to educate, functioning today as a visitor centre and working hearth used by blacksmiths for demonstrations. The external area of this once-abandoned site now provides one of the largest open spaces in Burnley town centre directly fronting the canal.

The project sensitively integrated energy-efficient boilers and underfloor heating throughout to ensure breathability for the historic fabric, which exiting materials reused where possible. Adjacent to the conservation project, the Canal & River Trust undertook 3.5km of nature enhancements to the canal. 475sqm of floating reed beds were installed alongside wildflowers, shrubs, and climbers to encourage the growth of new species.

The transformation of Finsley Gate has since been included as a case study in the ‘Heritage Environment Forum Heritage Responds’ – taking positive action on climate change report.

Interior of Finsley Gate, visitor seating for dining.

Interior of Finsley Gate building. A man walking past a wooden bar area, in front of stone walls.

Interior of Finsley Gate building. An office space with stone walls.

Interior of Finsley Gate building with stone walls.

Interior of Finsley Gate building. A wooden bar area and seating sits in front of stone walls.

Project team

Client: Canal & River Trust
Architect: Donald Insall Associates
Quantity surveyor & project manager: Frank Whittle Partnership Limited
MEP consultants: Ramboll UK
Structural engineer: Castree Ltd
Main contractor: Rosslee
Landscape design: Planit-IE
Timber analysis: FloydConsult
Interpretative designers: JANVS | VIDAR
Conservation management plan: Architectural Heritage Practice Ltd

Funders

National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF)
European Regional Development Fund
Burnley Borough Council
With match funding from the Canal & River Trust

Awards

Burnley Civic Trust ‘Excellence’ Award (2022)
Canal and River Trust Award – Best Large Project (2022)
Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practice – Conservation and Wildlife (2023)