Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has opened a permanent archive for the Historic Environment Record of Northern Ireland (HERoNI) at the repurposed Belfast War Room in Mount Eden Park, securing the future of one of Northern Ireland's most significant heritage collections.

The project gives new purpose to a major Cold War landmark while providing a long-term, sustainable base for HERoNI, which charts more than 45,000 historic places through maps, plans, documents and photographs.

Speaking at the opening, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: "The opening of the HERoNI Archive Store represents an important new chapter in the history of the Belfast War Room, ensuring the continued preservation of both this remarkable historic building and the irreplaceable archive collections it now houses for the benefit of future generations.

"There is a unique relationship between the building's original purpose and its new role. Once designed to safeguard government and society during a period of international uncertainty, the former Belfast War Room will now protect the records, knowledge and cultural memory that help future generations understand Northern Ireland's rich and diverse heritage. "This project demonstrates how our historic buildings can be adapted in innovative and sustainable ways, preserving not only the structures themselves but also the invaluable collections they can support.

"I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of the consultants, contractors and Department for Communities staff whose expertise and commitment made this innovative project possible."

HERoNI serves as a key public resource for Northern Ireland's historic environment, covering archaeological sites, listed and vernacular buildings, industrial, marine and defence heritage. Its holdings range from historic maps, plans and architectural drawings to field records, research papers, digital datasets and hundreds of thousands of photographs spanning all periods of the region's history.

The transformation highlights how historic buildings can be reused sustainably. Despite redevelopment challenges, the War Room's distinctive Cold War-era features — including 1.5 metre-thick reinforced concrete walls, a windowless layout and a network of compact internal rooms — provide stable environmental conditions ideally suited to archival storage and long-term preservation.

Constructed in the early 1950s, the Northern Ireland Regional War Room was one of just 13 purpose-built Regional War Rooms across the UK during the Cold War. Recognised as one of the best-preserved examples of its type, it is protected as a Grade B1 listed building.

The building will open for public tours during European Heritage Days in September 2026.