National Railway Museum- directions on banners planned

An application lodged with City of York Council would see banners and flags pointing visitors towards the entrance to the National Railway Museum installed if they are approved.

Plans from the museum stated online maps services had not yet caught up with changes to nearby roads, leading to visitors being given the wrong directions.

They added it followed changes to access routes to the museum which are now via Hudson Boulevard and Foundry Way.

It follows the construction and opening of both roads as part of the York Central regeneration scheme of the area around Leeman Road.

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The redevelopment of the area is set to include a new Central Hall for the museum and a new entrance to it off a new planned public space dubbed Museum Square.

Planning documents from the attraction stated the 1.5m-high by 70cm-wide PVC banners would be fixed to lamppost along the new roads.

They would direct people coming from the city centre or York Station to the right way to find the museum’s entrance.

Designs for banners planned along routes to the National Railway Museum, in York (Image: National Railway Museum)

Plans stated: “Visitors are often being led on unnecessary, long or incorrect routes.

“The flags will assist the public in finding their way to the museum, thus contributing to public safety.

“The flags will be made of high quality, durable material and will be maintained on a regular basis.”

The submission of the plans follows the approval of changes to the design of the new Central Hall amid concerns about overheating on the inside of the building.

Revisions include reducing glazing in the Museum Square building’s rooflight to prevent the inside it overheating, along with different cladding on the outside.

The museum’s plans stated the alterations, which also include lowering the height of the cylindrical building, followed assessments and would reduce the visual impact of its design.

Central Hall was set to be built next year as of July 2025, with an opening date yet to be confirmed.