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Landscape planning

Our eight chartered landscape architects, landscape planners and civil engineers work with local communities, statutory agencies, funding bodies and other environmental partners to deliver high quality public parks and open spaces in Belfast.

What we do

Our landscape planning team looks after the following areas:

• ensuring our public spaces are professionally planned and designed
• providing safe, healthy places that reflect Belfast’s natural, cultural and social heritage
• continually developing partnerships that help us deliver high quality public spaces and make Belfast a better place
• contributing to our key objectives of civic leadership, improving quality of life, promoting good relations and delivering best services.

What we provide

Our services include:

• landscape master-planning
• detailed landscape design for sports and recreational facilities, playgrounds, public parks, civic spaces, community gardens, cemeteries, public arts and signage
• cost estimation and financial control
• site survey and analysis
• project management
• environmental policy development
• grant applications
• civil engineering services
• planning applications
• community consultation and planning.

Projects

Here are some of the projects our landscape planning team have been involved in:

Writers' Square

We designed and project managed a civic space at St Anne's Cathedral with the idea of celebrating famous writers and poets from Northern Ireland.

The space was finished using high quality granite and slate paving stones and selected text from the various writers was sandblasted into the natural stone surfaces.

We also incorporated our theme into the design of the Square’s decorative railings.

Our partners included the Belfast Regeneration Office, Laganside Corporation and the local business community.

Project cost - around £280,000.

The Belfast Entries

We designed and project managed a hard landscaping scheme to regenerate Castle Arcade, Pottinger's Entry and Winecellar Entry in Belfast city centre.

These environmental improvements were agreed after we consulted with local businesses and statutory agencies.

We included new surface finishes using Caithness stone flags, granite setts and kerbs.

The scheme also provided new street lighting and included painting building facades, installing artistic wall tile mosaics and erecting new signs.

Our partners included the Department for Regional Development's Roads Service, the Department of Social
Development, Belfast City Centre Management, the local business community and our own Development department.

Project cost - around £350,000.

Roselawn Wetland Habitat

We designed and project managed a new wetland habitat which included the construction of a one-acre lake at Roselawn Cemetery in 2005.

We helped increase local biodiversity in the area by using native wild flora seeds collected in Northern Ireland.

The new lake was filled using a natural water table and overflow from an existing watercourse.

The site has now become a haven for a range of water fowl.

Project cost - around £30,000.

King William Park

We designed and project managed environmental improvements to a small urban park.

External work included new paving, lighting and planting and installing public art.

The Belfast Wheel (a bronze map of Belfast) was designed by 12 local community groups.

Each group provided a design for a segment of the wheel that represented their home district.

It was given to the park by the New Belfast Community Arts Initiative in June 2005.

The project was funded by the Brighter Belfast scheme in association with local community groups.

Project cost - around £77,000.

Narnia Show Garden

We designed and managed the construction of the Narnia Garden, inspired by the works of CS Lewis, as part of The Garden Show 2005 in Belfast.

The focal point of the garden was a water feature that incorporated a stone carving of Aslan’s head.

The garden won a gold medal under the Supreme Design Award and Peoples’ Supreme Award categories.

Parts of the garden are currently being relocated to the grounds of Malone House.

The project was funded under the Brighter Belfast scheme.

Dr Pitt Memorial Park

We worked with the local community to design and regenerate Dr Pitt Memorial Park on Lower Newtownards Road.

Our improvements included new senior and junior play areas, a new open space, better fencing and decorative lighting and updated street furniture.

We funded the scheme alongside the Belfast Local Strategy Partnership, Groundwork NI and the Northern Ireland Community Foundation.

Our partners included the East Belfast Partnership, the Lower Newtownards Road Residents’ Group and the Ballymac Trust.

Project cost - £260,000.

More information

If you would like to find out more, contact:

Paul Barr
Landscape Planning and Development manager

4th floor
Scottish Amicable Building
11 Donegall Square South
Belfast
BT1 5JE

Tel: 028 9032 0202
Fax: 028 9023 7070
Email: barrp@belfastcity.gov.uk