Belfast Region opportunities
| Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council | Ards and North Down Borough Council | Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council | Mid and East Antrim Borough Council | Newry, Mourne and Down District Council |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast International Airport | Bangor Waterfront | Laganbank Car Park | St Patrick’s Barracks, Ballymena | Mourne Park Estate |
| Global Point Business Park | Queen’s Parade, Bangor Park | Castle Street Car Park, Lisburn | Larne industrial opportunities | Mount Caulfield Site, Bessbrook |
| Mallusk north and south | Whitespots, Newtownards | Destination Royal Hillsborough | Ballymena industrial opportunities | Downpatrick Police Station |
| Nutt’s Corner Commercial Park | Balloo Road, Bangor | Dundonald International Ice Bowl (DIIB) | Mid and East Antrim industrial opportunities | Carnmeen Lands |
| Castlebawn, Newtownards | Derriaghy Primary School | Project Luna | ||
| Former Crepe Weavers, Comber Road, Newtownards | Pearce’s Gate |
Belfast International Airport
The BIA lands accommodate approximately 250 businesses with over 5,000 employees, including national and multinational brands. BIA is the 10th largest airport in the UK, with typically over six million passengers per year. Potential uses: The lands at BIA would be suitable for a wide range of uses such as manufacturing and distribution, aviation-related industries, including aircraft maintenance hangars, research and design facilities, offices and call centres and leisure/hotel use. BIA has recently completed a masterplan for the site and secured outline planning permission. The subject lands are located 18 miles north-west of Belfast. BIA is the main gateway to Northern Ireland and to the north of the island of Ireland. Road access to BIA is via the A57, connecting to Belfast city centre via the M2 motorway. BIA is well serviced by public transport, with buses to and from Belfast city centre, Antrim, Lisburn and Crumlin. Planning permission has been granted for a new 5.5m state-of-the-art 81 room hotel to be developed on BIA Lands.
| Scale of Development | 100 acres |
|---|---|
| Sector(s) | Airports and Aviation, Commercial and Offices, Industrial, Logistics |
| Location | Crumlin |
| Investment Type | Brownfield and Greenfield, Joint Venture Opportunity |
| Planning Status | Various |
Global Point Business Park
Global Point Business Park is the premier location for manufacturing companies in Northern Ireland. Owned by Invest Northern Ireland, it is a fully serviced site which extends to 59.39 hectares. The site is zoned employment land, suitable for a variety of uses and is emerging as a leading UK destination for companies in the advanced manufacturing sector.
A number of major investments are in the pipeline for Global Point totalling more than £268m, including:
- £150m canning factory by manufacturing giant Ardagh Metal Packaging
- £100m Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (AMIC) led by Queen’s University as part of the Belfast Region City Deal
- Sensata’s new £16.5m research and development centre
- Steel Mac Distribution Ltd’s new £4m manufacturing facility.
These strategic investments will sit alongside the multi-million pound, world-class manufacturing facility RLC Engineering, which was the first company to take up occupancy at Global Point. Accounting for the investment pipeline above, approximately 42 acres of land remain across a number of developable parcels.
The subject lands are 8.5 miles north-west of Belfast, accessible via Sandyknowes Junction of the M2 Motorway. Global Point is considered part of the wider Mallusk commercial area, a long established and favoured location for manufacturing and distribution companies, due to its unparalleled access to Northern Ireland’s motorway network and proximity to Larne (c. 15 miles) and Belfast Harbour (eight miles), Belfast International Airport (12.5 miles) and Belfast City Airport (11 miles).
The site also benefits from a train halt and Park and Ride facility located to the north-east of the site and cycle/pedestrian path links from the M5 (Shore Road) through the site.
| Scale of Development | 42 acres of land remaining |
|---|---|
| Sector(s) | Manufacturing, research and design, distribution, office (ancillary) |
| Location | Corr’s Corner, Newtownabbey |
| Investment Type | Developer, Investor, Joint venture |
| Programme | Opportunities available now |
| Planning Status | Various, outline approval |
| Land Owner | Invest NI |
Mallusk north and south
The subject lands comprise of approximately 99 acres of greenfield land with access from the Antrim Road. The lands lie north and south of the Antrim Road, with 44 acres north of Antrim Road and 65 acres south of Antrim Road. The lands are zoned for employment use under the Local Development Plan. This location has proven highly sought after for a variety of industrial/warehouse uses, such as manufacturing or storage and distribution. The subject lands are located on the Antrim Road in Mallusk, one of Northern Ireland’s premier industrial locations. Mallusk is a long established and favoured location for manufacturing and distribution companies, due to its unparalleled access to Northern Ireland’s motorway network and proximity to Larne (16 miles), Belfast Harbour (eight miles), Belfast International Airport (nine miles) and Belfast City Airport (10 miles). Public transport is available in the form of buses, which run between Belfast and Ballymena via the Antrim Road.
| Scale of Development | 99.5 acres |
|---|---|
| Sector(s) | Industrial, logistics, warehousing |
| Location | Mallusk |
| Investment Type | Greenfield development site sale |
| Planning Status | Various |
Nutt’s Corner Commercial Park
An expansive 34 acres, Nutt’s Corner Commercial Park has recently received planning approvals, unlocking a golden opportunity. Sysco Ireland has committed £23m in a state-of-theart 250,000 ft2 distribution facility at Nutt’s Corner, creating 90 jobs and taking the company’s workforce in Northern Ireland to 230, with plans to double its operations in the next five years. The project forms part of Sysco’s long term growth strategy to increase their share of the foodservice industry on the island of Ireland. The company cites Antrim & Newtownabbey’s infrastructure as the critical reasons for locating to Nutts corner alongside exceptional connectivity to service their customers and grow the business across the country. NIE Networks is progressing a new £6m training centre at Nutts Corner comprising a two storey building with workshops, classrooms and welfare facilities. A substantial portion of the premier site remains available for investment, presenting a rare chance to be part of a thriving commercial community. Earmarked for diverse potential uses, with a focus on logistics and manufacturing facilities. With planning permission secured for a cutting-edge distribution park, the site is tailor-made for design and build opportunities that cater to the evolving needs of modern businesses.
| Scale of Development | 14.5 acres |
|---|---|
| Sector(s) | Industrial, logistics, warehousing |
| Location | Nutt’s Corner |
| Investment Type | Greenfield development site sale |
| Planning Status | Various |
Bangor Waterfront
Bangor Waterfront is a flagship project in the Belfast Region City Deal programme of investment. This large multi-opportunity seafront project aims to create a unique destination, enriching mind, body and soul with a mix of public spaces, creative events, activities, attractions and experiences for residents and visitors; reconnecting the city centre with its waterfront. The subject lands have a total of approximately 39.22 acres / 15.87 hectares, some of which is zoned as town centre in the area plan. Redevelopment of the seafront to return Bangor to its former status as a thriving city and prime visitor attraction in Northern Ireland. The project focuses on providing economic, leisure, tourism and recreational benefits including the regeneration of the coastline between Pickie Funpark and Ballymacormick Point/Banks Lane (approximately 3.3 km/2.1 miles). The Bangor Waterfront development aims to create a unique destination, encouraging more visitors and residents to enjoy the coastline, by regenerating Bangor into a ‘destination of choice’ connecting its rich cultural heritage with creative industries and blue/green experiences alongside an inspirational coastal backdrop.
| Scale of Development | c.39.22 acres, c.15.87 hectares |
|---|---|
| Sector(s) | Hospitality and Hotels, Leisure, Retail |
| Location | Bangor, Co Down |
| Investment Type | Greenfield development site sale |
| Programme | Opportunities available from 2024 |
| Planning Status | Pre-Planning Stage; contract for funding received |
| Land Owner | Ards and North Down Borough Council |
| Progress | Integrated Consultancy Teams (ICT) appointed for Pickie Funpark and Ballyholme Yacht Club, and operator appointed for Pickie Fun Park. ICT for Bangor Marina and Harbour issuing Spring 2025. |
- Find out more about Bangor Waterfront regeneration (link opens in new window)
Queen’s Parade, Bangor Park
Queen’s Parade in Bangor offers a unique opportunity to create Northern Ireland’s premier public waterfront space in the country’s newest city.
Subject lands consist of approximately 13 acres (5.26 Ha), which now have formal planning approval for a truly mixed-use regeneration project. The site has two distinct parts: Marine Gardens (the ‘sea-side’): the creation of a new vibrant public space that overlooks a marina, and the development site (the ‘land-side’) which offers a variety of leisure, hotel, retail, hospitality, office and commercial opportunities.
The proposed £65 million scheme is suitable for a variety of uses, including hotel, residential, leisure, retail, restaurants and offices. The planning permission is made up of the following: 66 bed hotel with spa and swimming pool; 137 residential units; 6,503 m2 (70,000ft2) of office space; 1,858 m2 (20,000ft2) of food and beverage/retail opportunities; 1,503 m2 (16,178ft2) destination/cinema building; 1,440 m2 (15,500ft2) kids’ indoor recreational area; refurbishment of 5,330 m2 (57,371ft2) of commercial property along Main Street; 255 space undercroft car park. Marine Gardens public realm combining external events space, cafés, sheltered promenade and kiosks, seafront lawns, children’s play area, marketplace and courtyard squares. This development opportunity is located adjacent to Bangor Waterfront, another prime regeneration site with a unique range of leisure and tourism opportunities.
| Project Sponsor | Bangor Marine Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Scale of Development | Approx. £65m |
| Site area | c.13 acres (c.5.26 Ha) |
| Site Development | c.350,000ft² |
| Sector(s) | Hospitality and Hotels, Leisure, Mixed Use, Residential, Office, Commercial |
| Location | Bangor, Co Down |
| Investment Type | Brownfield, other |
| Programme | Opportunities available |
| Planning Status | Formal Planning Approval Received September 2022 |
| Land Owner | Department for Communities |
- Find out more about Queen's Parade (link opens in new window)
Whitespots, Newtownards
This development of a new multi-use recreational facility, with major visitor attractions in the lands at Whitespots Country Park, Newtownards, focuses on enhancing the visitor experience with walking trails and potential new features, such as a unique mining heritage attraction, Ireland’s World War experience with outdoor recreation, visitor accommodation and event spaces. The subject lands cover approx. 80.55 acres (32.6 hectares) and the site (a former mining area) was established as Whitespots Country Park in 1995, with development ongoing. Ards and North Down Borough Council is developing a long-term vision for a regional park connecting Whitespots to other key locations via greenways linking Belfast through Comber; Newtownards; Donaghadee and back to Belfast.
The subject site is suitable for a variety of different uses, including tourism, leisure, and recreation to bring economic, health and educational, community cohesion and other social benefits.
The subject site is located on the Bangor Road between the seaside city of Bangor and the thriving shopping centre of Newtownards, approximately 23 km (14 miles) from Belfast city centre.
| Scale of Development | c.80.55 acres c. 32.6 hectares |
|---|---|
| Sector(s) | Hospitality, Leisure, Adventure Tourism, Other |
| Location | Newtownards, Co Down |
| Investment Type | Development Site |
| Programme | Opportunities available |
| Planning Status | Pre-Planning Phase |
| Land Owner | Ards and North Down Borough Council (link opens in new window) |
Balloo Road, Bangor
Throughout Northern Ireland there is a shortage of space for small businesses; additional enterprise parks are required for incubation space to support and grow new businesses.
The subject lands are on Balloo Road, approximately 3.2 km/2 miles from Bangor city centre and approximately 21 km/13 miles from Belfast city centre. Belfast International Airport is approximately 48 kms/30 miles and Belfast City Airport approximately 16 km/10 miles by road. Belfast Port is also nearby at approximately 23 km/14 miles. Balloo is Ards and North Down’s premier industrial and commercial location and home to a number of major businesses. Balloo Road is well serviced by public transport, with buses running to Belfast Laganside Bus Centre, and located 10 minutes from Bangor train station. Bangor train station provides services running from Bangor to Belfast at peak times.
Council in progress of appointing ICT to align with Scoping Report on future economic development sectors in Ards and North Down. The Council has gained permission to include c5.6 acres/2.3 hectares of Invest Northern Ireland land which immediately abuts the Council’s site for overall development. This location would be suitable for an innovation/light industrial unit or business units to further support economic growth in an area where many fast-growing businesses have established premises. There is currently a shortage of good quality industrial property ready to occupy across Northern Ireland. Industrial rentals are increasing due to lack of supply and increased demand.
| Scale of Development | c.7.7 acres, c.3.1 hectares with approximately 1,607 sqm/17,300ft² building. |
|---|---|
| Sector(s) | Commercial, Industrial |
| Location | Bangor, Co Down |
| Investment Type | Other |
| Programme | Opportunities available |
| Planning Status | Designated as existing Employment Land |
| Land Owner | Ards and North Down Borough Council (link opens in new window) |
Castlebawn, Newtownards
The former factory site comprises approximately 16 acres, including the Historic Bawn Wall and adjacent South Street sites, which includes residential development. of approximately 200 units. Planning permission has been granted for an 80-bed nursing home and coffee shop drivethru restaurants with car parking.
The lands have planning consent for showrooms, trade counter retail and approximately 13,935 m2 (150,000ft2) workplace business park. Current occupiers on the site include newly developed Lidl, Starbucks and Tim Horton Drive-thru’s in the retail and FCB sectors, 66 residential units on South Street and an 80- bed specialist dementia care nursing home owned and operated by Dunluce Healthcare. Planning permission was granted in July 2023 for the erection of 2no. light industrial units with associated trade counters/sales area, 1no. tyre depot and 1no. storage and distribution unit with associated trade counter/sales area on land immediately south of the Portaferry Road roundabout.
Proximity to Castlebawn Retail Park makes this site an optimal location for retail development. Trade counter/warehouse developments are currently well occupied with vacancy levels remaining relatively low. Whilst the retail sector has encountered challenges in recent years, the NI sector remains resilient; out of town retail market remains buoyant, with limited vacancy and demand primarily driven by ‘discounters’ and grocery operators. The site’s connectivity to Newtownards town centre means that it is in close proximity to a host of amenities, including hospital, surgery, shops and shopping centres, schools and the South Eastern Regional College.
| Project Sponsor | Castlebawn Newtownards Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Scale of Development | c.47.0 acres, c.19.02 hectares |
| Sector(s) | Commercial and Offices, Healthcare Estates, Other, Residential, Retirement Living |
| Location | Newtownards, Co Down |
| Investment Type | Brownfield/ Greenfield Site |
| Programme | Opportunities available |
| Planning Status | Various |
| Land Owner | Castlebawn Newtownards Ltd (link opens in new window) |
Former Crepe Weavers, Comber Road, Newtownards
The former Crepe Weavers Site is located at a gateway into the thriving shopping town of Newtownards, with potential opportunities for industrial, leisure, retail and residential development. The subject lands consist of a brownfield former industrial site that has now been cleared. The subject lands are zoned as existing industry in the area plan.
The subject lands cover approx. 25 acres (10.1 Ha) and previously benefited from outline planning permission for mixed use development to include residential, nursing home, hotel, petrol filling station, neighbourhood centre, leisure and light industrial park use.
A Revised Outline Application is currently under consideration for the following mixed use scheme:
Demolition of existing buildings and proposed mixed use development scheme comprising:
- circa 95 no. dwellings
- nursing and care village comprising circa 96 beds
- 78-bed hotel
- Petrol filling station
- 1no. drive-thru (Sui Generis);
- Leisure unit (Sui Generis);
- Neighbourhood retail centre to include a convenience store and hot food outlets
- Light industrial/storage and distribution units
- Business units
- Provision of a new roundabout (at Cambourne Housing Estate entrance), road improvements at Comber Road access and new access on Comber Road/Castlebawn Link Road.
| Project Sponsor | Clonrose Developments |
|---|---|
| Scale of Development | Site area:c.25 acres (c.10.1 hectares) |
| Sector(s) | Commercial and Offices, Healthcare Estates, Industrial, Logistics, Mixed Use, Residential, Retirement Living, Hotel |
| Location | Newtownards, Co Down |
| Investment Type | Brownfield site – for mixed use development |
| Programme | Opportunities available |
| Planning Status | Outline Planning Permission granted – reserved matters on part of site under consideration |
| Land Owner | Clonrose Developments (link opens in new window) |
Laganbank Car Park
Laganbank Car Park has been earmarked by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council as a regeneration development opportunity. The subject site forms part of the Laganbank Quarter in the south-east sector of the city centre area, as designated in the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015 (BMAP).
The site extends to c.2.10 acres (c.0.85 hectares) and is currently a ‘pay and display’ 238-space car park. It is strategically positioned with prominent frontage directly onto both the A1 Laganbank Road (a main arterial route through the city) and Linenhall Street.
The city’s primary retail core is only a few minutes’ walk away. The site is located in an area of mixed use with nearby occupiers including but not limited to, Royal Mail Group, Lisburn City Library, Irish Linen Centre and Museum and Lisburn Health Centre. Laganbank Retail Park located opposite comprises around 50,000 ft2 and is fully let with occupiers including TK Maxx, Pure Gym, Upstairs Downstairs Furniture and Ground Coffee.
The council’s prime objective in offering this development opportunity is to contribute to the revitalisation of Lisburn city centre through a high quality, comprehensive, mixed-use regeneration development of a viable and sustainable economic use, which acts as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the surrounding Laganbank / Linenhall Street area.
LCCC is registered owner of the freehold title of the site. A title pack containing copies of title to the site is available on request. A copy of the development brief is also available on request.
| Scale of Development | Site extends to c.2.10 acres (c.0.85 hectares) |
|---|---|
| Sector(s) | All |
| Location | Laganbank Road/ Linenhall Street, Lisburn, BT28 1LU |
| Investment Type | Sale for development |
| Programme | Opportunities available |
| Land Owner | Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council |
Castle Street Car Park
Located on Castle Street, within the Lisburn Conservation Area and overlooking the historic Castle Gardens listed in the Department for Communities register of Historic Parks, Gardens and Demesnes, this site is conveniently situated within walking distance of the main retail core, railway station and bus station. It is also connected to the main city bus route, the M1 motorway junction and is approximately nine miles south of Belfast.
The site was previously used as a council-run surface car park, extending to c.1.39 acres (c.0.54 hectares) with prominent frontage onto Castle Street of approximately 85m (approximately 279 ft), which provides easy access to Lisburn’s city centre and to the pedestrian precinct to the west, with a mix of retail, residential and employment uses located within walking distance.
Given the setting of this 1.39-acre city centre site, coupled with the surrounding conservation area and adjacent Castle Gardens, the site represents a real opportunity to build upon and complement the surrounding land uses and setting already in place.
LCCC has high expectations for the future development of this site and is keen to ensure that development will create a positive impact on the area from an economic development perspective. A copy of the development brief is available on request.
| Scale of Development | The site extends to c.1.39 acres (c.0.54) |
|---|---|
| Sector(s) | Residential |
| Location | Castle Street Lisburn, BT27 |
| Investment Type | Sale for development |
| Programme | Opportunities available |
| Land Owner | Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council |
Destination Royal Hillsborough
The heritage village of Royal Hillsborough is unlike any other village in Northern Ireland. It is home to the Royal Family when visiting Northern Ireland and was significant to negotiations during Northern Ireland’s Peace Process. Named after the Hill family, who played a significant part in its development, it has retained much of the historic character and the family’s influence can still be seen in many of the elegant buildings dating from the 18th and 19th century.
The village of Hillsborough in County Down gained ‘Royal Hillsborough’ status in 2021. Home to Hillsborough Castle, the residence of His Majesty the King and other members of the Royal family when visiting Northern Ireland, it is the first village or town in Northern Ireland to receive Royal status.
Through funding secured from Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD), Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has designed and developed the prestigious ‘Destination Royal Hillsborough’ project. The proposed BRCD investment will build on £20 million of investment by Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens as a visitor attraction and the designation of Hillsborough village as ‘Royal Hillsborough’ in 2021.
Hillsborough is one of only four towns and villages across the UK with the Royal prefix and the first in Northern Ireland. In addition, the proposed investment builds on over £1m of recent investment in Hillsborough Forest by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.
The overall vision of the proposed investment is: “To create a high quality, distinctive, leading visitor destination and experience, targeting the ‘culturally curious’ market segment alongside regenerating the village via an enhanced sustainable culture and heritage offering.”
The proposed capital investment components include:
- integrating and improving the access to and connections between key attractions such as the Castle, Forest, including the Fort and wider village via a major public realm scheme
- developing the Fort as a venue for events such as authentic re-enactments
- restoration of the Courthouse as a venue for conveying the history and heritage of the Courthouse and wider village through audio visual interpretation
- development of a social enterprise offering in the Forest to provide an amenity for visitors to the Forest, as well as a source of training and employment for vulnerable adults or young people working with third sector partners.
- through partnership with a private sector operator license, offer additional opportunities for recreation such as a high ropes course in the forest
- provision of additional parking infrastructure to offer appropriate infrastructure for increased visitors to the village, encouraging parking outside the village and less vehicular traffic through the village.
The aim is to create a ‘whole village heritage tourism experience’ and help drive forward Tourism NI’s goal of encouraging more ‘out of state’ visitors to Northern Ireland. Work began early 2024, with a planned completion date of September 2027.
| Scale of Development | The estimated cost of the landmark ‘Destination Royal Hillsborough’ project is £26million |
|---|---|
| Sector(s) | All - A number of development opportunities coming forward to include Public Realm works and a social enterprise opportunity |
| Location | Royal Hillsborough Village, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council |
| Investment Type | Development |
| Programme | Opportunities available |
| Planning Status | Various |
| Land Owner | DfI under licence to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council |
Dundonald International Ice Bowl (DIIB)
The redevelopment of Dundonald International Ice Bowl is part of a wider regeneration plan for the whole area. Once completed, the new venue will bring a range of benefits to the Castlereagh area and beyond.
The council’s investment in the new Dundonald International Ice Bowl will bring to life a wide range of facilities, including a 24-lane bowling alley, a 100-station gym, community rooms, a restaurant and a coffee shop. The new, modern venue will house the only Olympic-sized ice rink on this island and will continue to be the training base for the Belfast Giants ice hockey team.
Alongside the landmark Ice bowl regeneration initiative, the council is releasing an opportunity site for development which sits adjacent to the new Ice Bowl site.
The site, which is located directly in front of David Lloyd Gym, is 2.06 acres or 0.83 hectares and offers the right developer a unique opportunity to bring forward a mixed-use development project which stands to benefit from the council’s £52m investment in the Ice Bowl. The site was previously masterplanned for a leisure offering, with a specific view for a hotel development, but subject to planning the council would consider mixed-use development.
The site is located adjacent to the Omni Park which comprises of an 11-screen cinema complex, eight thriving restaurants and a children’s soft play offering. It is located close to a greenway for walking and cycling, linking to Comber in one direction and the CS Lewis Square in the other. The site also benefits from being close to the main Glider route into Belfast city centre.
| Scale of Development | 2.06 acres or 0.83 hectares |
|---|---|
| Sector(s) | All |
| Location | 111 Old Dundonald Road, Castlereagh, Belfast, BT16 1XT |
| Investment Type | Development |
| Programme | Opportunities available |
| Land Owner | Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council |
Derriaghy Primary School
The council is proposing the development of a former primary school based at 14 Milltown Park, Lisburn BT28 3TU, offering suitable developers the opportunity to develop the derelict site into an attractive, resilient and environmentally friendly space which will enhance the services, opportunities and lives of the residents of the local area. The facility will provide the space to host a range of educational, creative and health benefits for the local community.
Derriaghy is the wider townland in which the settlement of Milltown is situated. Milltown is a village located three kilometres to the north of Lisburn city centre. The site of the former Derriaghy Primary School sits centrally within the Milltown Estate. The current facilities in this rural area include private housing, social housing (NIHE), Play Park, community garden, MUGA, several churches and a small area of retail units consisting of a shop and fast-food outlets.
This site is 1.6 hectares in size with direct road frontage onto the Milltown Road through the north boundary of the site. The east and south boundaries are adjacent to the housing development. To the west, a border is shared with the current community garden and playpark. Within the red line boundary is a Multi-use Games Area (MUGA) (located ‘g’ in figure 1.1). Any proposed development must allow for the MUGA to remain or to be located elsewhere within the development site. Within the site, the structure of the former primary school remains standing, surrounded by a hard surfaced area. There are large green spaces throughout the site boundaries.
The design of the site development should take into consideration the requirement for high quality open spaces, in line with relevant planning policies. It is recommended that a minimum of 10% open space is achieved throughout the overall site. Development needs to have regard for PPS8 and enhancement of public amenity for the wider community as a minimum standard. The council would welcome approaches in relation to this opportunity site. We are open to imaginative and creative solutions based on the former development brief, with a specific focus on meeting community need.
| Scale of Development | The site extends to c.1.39 acres (c.0.54) |
|---|---|
| Sector(s) | This site is 1.6 hectares |
| Location | 14 Milltown Park, Lisburn BT28 3TU |
| Investment Type | Development |
| Programme | Opportunities available |
| Land Owner | Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council |
St Patrick's Barracks, Ballymena
The St Patrick’s site is a strategically important location of approx. 15 hectares, close to the centre of Ballymena. The former military barracks was closed by the Ministry of Defence in 2007 and declared surplus, then transferred to the Northern Ireland Executive.
The development of the site will transform this part of Ballymena and act as a catalyst for the redevelopment of neighbouring public stakeholder sites. It will stimulate job creation and sustain employment through the economic, social and physical regeneration of the area. The site has been approved planning for the development of a number of social houses, along with a new Northern Regional College campus. The subject land is also suitable for uses to include an innovation and clean technology centre for technology businesses.
| Scale of Development | 37 acres / 15 hectares |
|---|---|
| Location | The subject lands are located 0.5 miles from Ballymena town centre, the site has easy access to Belfast via the M2 Motorway approximately 1.4 miles from the site. The subject site is well serviced with public transport with Ballymena train station being approximately 0.8 miles away. |
Larne Industrial Opportunities
Larne has excellent connectivity to the rest of NI and beyond, thanks to the A8 dual carriageway which runs to the Port of Larne’s main entrance, with access to NI’s motorway network in 20 minutes. In addition to the main ferry berth, the port has four other berths, capable of handling cargo: Curran Quay, Continental Quay, Olderfleet Quay, and Chaine Quay.
Existing accommodation at Port of Larne / Redlands includes a mixture of uses, including warehouse, industrial and retail operations. There are significant opportunities for new industrial developments as the subject site is zoned for industry under the Area Plan.
The existing Industrial zoning at Larne Port and Redlands, as defined by the Larne Area Plan 2010, is located between the Harbour Highway and Olderfleet Road. The zoning comprises of several parcels of land - the ‘Redlands’ site (and the adjacent lagoon), the site east of Coastguard Road, and the site on Curran Point north of East Antrim Boat Club. The Redlands site is the main part of the zoning and comprises of approx. 33ha, developed for a mix of uses including storage or distribution, general industry); sui generis uses such as Council recycling depot, NI Water Wastewater Treatment Works, a filling station, trade counters and builders’ merchants.
The area of zoning (approx. 3ha) to the east, closer to Larne Port, has a range of uses including Residential, Guest Houses, Larne Port Offices, and Sui Generis Uses, including the Coastguard building. The area at Curran Point (approx. 3.5ha) has been developed for harbour related industry – predominantly lorry trailer parking and customs related infrastructure. There remains approximately 8.5ha of land undeveloped within the zoning. The subject site falls within the NI Gas Supply Network and are also serviced by Northern Ireland Electricity Networks and Northern Ireland Water.
| Scale of Development | c52 acres / 21 hectare |
|---|---|
| Sectors | Logistics / Manufacturing. |
| Location | The subject lands at Port of Larne / Redlands are in close proximity to Larne town and main arterial routes. Larne is located approximately 21 miles from Belfast city centre, approximately 21 miles from Belfast International Airport, approximately 21 miles from Belfast City Airport and approximately 22 miles from the Port of Belfast. The subject area is well serviced with public transport with buses and trains going to and from Belfast city centre. |
Ballymena Industrial Opportunities
The subject site is comprised of a mix of greenfield land together with office, warehouse, industrial and manufacturing space.
The area includes land, office and industrial space at the former Michelin site on Raceview Road, which is approximately 100 acres and includes 830,000 sq. ft. of existing warehouse and office accommodation. There is outstanding internal road infrastructure, which enables HGV access around the 2km internal road network. Services include a mains electricity supply of 2 no. 20/24 MVA transformers, 1 no. 2.3 MW wind turbines and natural gas – 250mm /2.5 bar supply.
Also included are development opportunities on Woodside Road, which include Invest NI-owned lands, and an industrial estate made up of over 86 acres, providing a range of industrial and development opportunities in an area zoned for industrial use. The estate is made up of a multi-tenanted commercial park with office, industrial and manufacturing accommodation, with the surrounding greenfield lands presenting a wide range of development opportunities. The site falls within the gas supply network and is serviced by NI Electricity and NI Water.
| Scale of Development | 86.5 acres / 35 hectares |
|---|---|
| Sectors | Logistics / Manufacturing. |
| Location | The subject lands are located within three miles of Ballymena town centre and benefit from ease of access to the M2 motorway via Junction 11. Belfast is approximately 28 miles away, Belfast International Airport approximately 17 miles and Belfast City Airport approximately 30 miles. Both Belfast and Larne Ports are within a 30-minute drive of this location. |
Mid and East Antrim Industrial Opportunities
Kilroot Business Park is 60 acres in total and includes a mix of warehouse, industrial and office accommodation, as well as a gym and a café. Units range from 100sq ft to 90,000 sq ft.
There are significant opportunities for new industrial developments as the site includes areas zoned for employment within the Area Plan. New design and build opportunities are available for up to 130,000 sq ft. An additional 107-acre greenfield site is located adjacent to the business park and is zoned as industrial lands.
The south-west Carrickfergus area presents a range of commercial, logistics and manufacturing opportunities across two key areas:
Shore Commercial Park and Trooperslane Industrial Estate. Shore Commercial Park is c118 acres in total and includes a mix of warehouse, industrial and office accommodation, as well as opportunities for new build industrial units. The site also includes greenfield land zoned for employment within the Local Area Plan.
The Trooperslane Industrial Estate presents a range of opportunities for Invest NI client companies, with the c100 acre site providing existing and prospective investors, with access to high quality industrial, manufacturing, warehousing and office accommodation, and development sites with access to 11kva electricity supply and telecoms ducting.
The sites fall within the NI Gas Supply Network and are also serviced by Northern Ireland Electricity Networks and Northern Ireland Water.
| Scale of Development | South West - 223 acres / 90.2 hectares Kilroot - 60 acres / 24.3 hectares |
|---|---|
| Sectors | Logistics / Manufacturing. |
| Location | The subject lands are both within approximately two miles of Carrickfergus town centre. Carrickfergus is located approximately 12 miles from Belfast city centre, approximately 21 miles from Belfast International Airport, approximately 13 miles from Belfast City Airport and approximately 10 miles from the Port of Belfast. The subject area is well serviced with public transport with buses and trains going to and from Belfast city centre. |
Mourne Park Estate
The subject lands include parklands, woods, fields and paddocks.
The property is ringfenced by the Coast Road to the south and Kilkeel Golf Club to the east, which was originally part of the estate. Potential uses for this site include tourism related, leisure and residential.
| Scale of Development | 160 acres / 64.7 hectares |
|---|---|
| Sectors | Tourism / Leisure / Residential |
| Location | The subject premises are located close to the village of Kilkeel, approximately 15 miles from Newry. The subject land is situated approximately 39 miles from Belfast city centre, approximately 46 miles from Belfast International Airport and approximately 42 miles from Belfast City Airport. |
Mount Caulfield Site, Bessbrook
The site consists of 3.76 acres / 1.52 hectares of land, of which the historical Mount Caulfield House sits on.
The subject site would be suitable for a mixed development opportunity for tourism, in the form of a guest house or hotel, with possible rental holiday cottages or housing development.
| Scale of Development | 3.76 acres / 1.52 hectares |
|---|---|
| Sectors | Tourism / Leisure / Residential |
| Location | The Mount Caulfield House is situated in the south-east of the village of Bessbrook, just off Fearons Terrace. Bessbrook is situated c 38 miles from Belfast city centre. The site is situated approximately a one-hour drive from both Belfast City and International airports. Bessbrook is well serviced with public transport, with train and bus services going to and from Newry. |
Downpatrick Police Station
The subject lands consist of an existing council owned car park and former Police Station site, as owned by the Department for Communities (DfC).
The subject lands would be suitable for a variety of uses given its town centre location.
| Scale of Development | 1.93 acres / 0.78 hectares |
|---|---|
| Sectors | Regeneration |
| Location | The subject lands are located just off Irish Street. The site has ease of access to road networks with Belfast (22 miles), Newry (30 miles) and Dublin (100 miles). The site is well serviced by public transport with buses running from Belfast and Newry. |
Carnmeen Lands
The subject lands offer a unique opportunity to develop a dynamic, employment generating business and education campus on a large greenfield site. The land is in a strategic location, with profile and direct access onto the Dublin Belfast M1 corridor at Newry.
The connectivity to the cities of Dublin and Belfast and their airports and ports, as well as access to potential employees from both locations, is a very significant advantage of this location for potential occupiers and investors.
Potential uses for this site include industrial logistics, manufacturing and offices. The current planning application is for B1 office and B2 Light Industrial.
| Scale of Development | 40 acres / 16 hectares |
|---|---|
| Sectors | Logistics / Manufacturing |
| Location | The lands are located immediately adjacent to the Invest Northern Ireland lands at Newry, which offers opportunities for collaboration, creating synergies and the sharing service provision. The lands have direct access to the M1/A1 Euroroute. |
Project Luna
Project Luna at Merchant’s Quay, Newry, is a major city centre, mixed-use development scheme, with plans for the development of a 82-bedroom hotel and 45,000 sq ft of offices, along with 160 parking spaces.
Brought forward by Glena Developments, an established property development and investment company, with a head office in Newry city centre, the project will focus on the redevelopment of three acres of derelict site. The project will further strengthen Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s exciting plans for the continued regeneration of the city.
| Scale of Development | 1 Hectar |
|---|---|
| Sectors | Hospitality & Service Sector |
| Location | Merchant’s Quay, Newry |
| Investment Type | Development of derelict site |
| Programme | Opportunity currently available |
| Planning Status | Planning to be obtained |
| Owner | Glena Developments |
Pearce's Gate
Pearce’s Gate at Merchant’s Quay, Newry is a major city centre, mixed-use development scheme, comprising of 73 no. apartments, three retail units and a coffee bar, 864square metres of office space, landscaped areas, communal courtyard and car parking.
Owned by Keltbray Developments, a specialist engineering and construction solutions group based in London, and as part of their ongoing commitment to redefining the way sustainable development is delivered, the planning-approved scheme offers 11 car parking spaces, with the aim of encouraging the reduction on the use of private cars and increasing the use of public transport. Pearce’s Gate will also offer Newry’s first Car Club giving residents of the apartments the opportunity to hire a car by the hour for those infrequent journeys, rather than the need to own their own vehicle. The scheme firmly respects the site’s heritage and historic location adjacent to Newry Canal and will see the regeneration of a vacant and under-utilised area to create a high quality, sustainable urban development. It will also further strengthen Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s exciting plans for the continued regeneration of the city. Construction of the approved scheme is expected to commence in June 2025.
| Scale of Development | 0.4 Hectares |
|---|---|
| Sectors | Retail / Service sector / Private & social housing |
| Location | Merchant’s Quay, Newry |
| Investment Type | Development of derelict site |
| Programme | Opportunity currently available |
| Planning Status | Planning Approval in place (March 2023) |
| Owner | Keltbray Developments |
