HomeKey city developments in Belfast
The city skyline is rapidly changing, with
regeneration and development taking
place at an unprecedented rate.Despite the current economic conditions, Belfast’s physical development continues apace. In 2009, over £500 million worth of developments were unveiled, including the re-opening of Ulster Hall, Ulster Museum and Belfast City Hall following extensive refurbishments.
There are also a number of huge regeneration projects planned including the Royal Exchange development in the city centre and the Port of Belfast’s expansion project.
Phase one of the massive Titanic Quarter project (based at the former Harland and Wolff shipyard) is now underway. This is one of Europe’s largest and most exciting waterfront development projects, promising to create up to 25,000 new jobs over the next 15 years.
The legacy of the former Laganside Corporation is apparent in a range of iconic developments which have brought life back to the area around the River Lagan including our Belfast Waterfront Hall.
This transformed area is the focus of economic and social regeneration, with over 14,700 jobs now located here. It also benefits from £1.2 billion of investment, with 275,000 sqm of offices and 1,750 residential units.
The success of the tourism and hospitality industry has led to 1,600 new bed spaces in the city in the last two years, with a further four hotels under construction and in planning at present.
Some of the city's key development projects include:
Northern Ireland Science Park
Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP) provides flexible business accommodation and enterprise support for hi-tech companies within the 180 acre Titanic Quarter site.The organisation has four facilities currently in operation offering over 10,000sqm of lettable space. Current accommodation is fully let to companies ranging from global giants like Citi and Microsoft, through to spin-out projects from Queen's University Belfast and University of Ulster.
Following the successful completion of the first stages of development, a new facility called the Concourse Building opened in late 2008. This provides 21,000 sqm of additional multi-functional workspace and is currently operating at capacity.
Website: www.nisp.co.uk
North Foreshore - Giant's Park
Our North Foreshore - Giant’s Park development is a trail blazing regeneration initiative on a 340 acre site on the edge of Belfast Lough, two miles from Belfast city centre.A 220 acre public park will transform the site into a must-see visitor attraction while an Environmental Resources Recovery Park comprising environmental businesses will be a clean, high quality, modern industrial renewable energy and waste management facility - a new sustainable development concept for 21st century Belfast. Find out more about Giant's Park
Port of Belfast
In July 2007, the Port of Belfast announced plans to reclaim 120 acres of land from Belfast Lough at a cost of £630 million to accommodate economic growth. According to an independent economic impact report, such significant investment is required to cater for a projected doubling in the level of traffic handled by the Port by 2025.Investment already undertaken to date includes a £3 million upgrade of the road network to improve access to the port, a £10 million investment in a deep-water berth to accommodate the growing cruise market and to allow access by larger freight vessels, a £20 million contribution to the Titanic Signature Project and a £7million investment in a paper and newsprint handling facility.
Website: www.belfast-harbour.co.uk
Royal Exchange
This key site fronts the prime retailing pitch of Royal Avenue and is located between the two main shopping centres of Castlecourt and Victoria Square. It is supported by the Department of Social Development.The development is a 74,000 sqm mixed use, retail-led regeneration scheme containing:
- 25,000 sqm of retail space
- 8,300 sqm office space
- 4,000 sqm of catering and leisure facilities
- 200 residential units
- 700 car park spaces.
Website: www.ewartproperties.com
Sirocco Quays
Sirocco Quays is a 16 acre mixed-use regeneration waterfront project in the centre of Belfast overlooking the River Lagan.The scheme will consist of approximately 2,200 residential apartments, 8,900 sqm of office space, 4,000 sqm of restaurant space and 8,700 sqm of retail space along with a four star hotel. The scheme has a 10 year development programme.
Website: www.carvill-group.com
Titanic Quarter
One of Europe’s largest waterfront regeneration developments on the banks of Belfast’s River Lagan, Titanic Quarter is transforming 185 acres of former shipyard lands into a new focal point for Belfast.Phase one is under way and phase two has outline planning permission approved.
These two phases cover a quarter of the entire site and will include:
- around 2,500 residential units
- over 50,000 sqm of workspace
- 10,000 sqm of leisure facilities
- two hotels
- a signature tourism project to mark the birthplace of the Titanic
- over 7,000sqm of retail space
- the re-located Public Records Office
- a further education college.
Victoria Square
Belfast’s newest retail-led development opened at Victoria Square in the city centre in March 2008 at a cost of £400 million.The development includes 68,000 sqm of retail space (including a 20,000sqm House of Fraser anchor store), 106 apartments, 1,000 car park spaces and an eight screen Odeon cinema.
The scheme incorporates two covered, multi-level streets linked to a huge glass dome with viewing platform. It won the Best Regeneration Project award at the MAPIC international retail property exhibition in 2008.
Website: www.victoriasquare.com
