Urban Villages

Urban Villages Initiative

We are working in partnership with The Executive Office’s Urban Villages Initiative on a range of capital projects across Belfast. 

Urban Villages aims to improve good relations and develop thriving places where there has been a history of deprivation and community tension.

• Find out more about Urban Villages

Since 2019 we have completed 29 projects with a combined investment of £31.3 million. 

Below is a selection of projects that are underway or completed.

As well as funding from Urban Villages, many of these projects received funding from ourselves, other government departments and other sources.

Major projects underway

• Ballysillan Playing Fields - a £8.4 million project to transform the playing fields into a new destination public park.
• ABC Trust Health and Leisure Hub - a £7.3 million project to transform a derelict building (formerly St Gemma’s College) on Ardilea Street into a modern, purpose-built health and leisure community centre known as The ABC Centre. Delivered on behalf of Ardoyne Bone Community Health and Leisure Ltd.
• Ardoyne Youth Enterprise - a £3 million project to build a new four-storey building including ground floor retail space, offices and community facilities.
• The Lockhouse - a £2.8 million project to redevelop a former lockhouse and outdoor space beside the River Lagan. Delivered on behalf of Lower Ormeau Residents Action Group.
• Titanic People Exhibition Centre - a £1.4 million project to transform the derelict B2-listed Westbourne Presbyterian Church into an outdoor exhibition centre celebrating local ‘Titanic’ people. Delivered on behalf of Round Tower East Ltd.

Completed projects

Some of the larger scale projects completed since 2019 include:

• Marrowbone Millennium Park - a £4.3 million project to redevelop the park and pitches on Oldpark Road.
• Páirc Nua Chollann - a £5.6 million project to create a new landmark public park in the Colin area.
• Grace Family Centre - a £2.2 million project to create a new family centre on Alliance Avenue, providing childcare and other facilities for the community. Delivered on behalf of Grace Women’s Development Limited.
• Dr Pitt Memorial Park - a £1.7 million project to redevelop a play park on Newtownards Road. 
• Sandy Row Arts and Digital Hub - a £1.6 million project to create a digital hub, an arts studio and living quarters for an artist in residence on Sandy Row. Delivered on behalf of the South Belfast Resources Centre.
• Hosford Community Homes - a £1.1 million project on Newtownards Road to create a multi-purpose community space with temporary housing units to support people at risk of homelessness or facing challenging circumstances. Delivered on behalf of East Belfast Mission.
• Reverend Robert Bradford Memorial Play Park - a £600,000 project to provide a new and improved play park and multi-use games area on Donegall Pass.