Belfast unveils waterfront regeneration plan

A new vision launched today sets out to make Belfast one of the world’s great waterfront cities. The Belfast Waterfront Promenade provides a framework to ensure that future regeneration of the city’s waterfront, one of the largest in Europe, follows an agreed set of design principles. Stretching from Sailortown to Ormeau Park, more than half of the 10,000m waterfront remains available for development. The new approach was developed by the Belfast Waterfront Task Group, made up of representatives from charity Maritime Belfast Trust, Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour, Titanic Quarter, Tourism NI and the Departments for Communities, Infrastructure, the Economy and of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs. [caption id="attachment_1212106" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Belfast Waterfront marina[/caption] Those behind the plan believe this is a generational opportunity to reshape Belfast’s relationship with its waterfront and maximise the area’s potential to provide economic and social benefits for all of Northern Ireland. Kerrie Sweeney, chief executive at Maritime Belfast Trust, said: “Over the past 30 years Belfast has rediscovered its waterfront with projects such as the Lagan Weir, ICC Belfast, Odyssey Arena, Titanic Quarter and City Quays. “Such is its scale, however, over half of the city’s waterfront area remains to be regenerated. We are ready for the next stage, but this generational opportunity will only realise its full potential if everyone adopts a joined-up approach. “The Promenade framework, backed by all the key groups involved in Belfast’s waterfront, is the starting point for the next 30 years of development. It won’t happen overnight, but there is no reason why Belfast can’t be a great people-centric waterfront city on par with locations such as Copenhagen, Stockholm or Seattle.” Clíodhna Nic Bhranair, chair of Belfast City Council’s city growth and regeneration committee, said: “Our waterfront is an amazing natural asset for Belfast and its regeneration can help to reconnect and revitalise existing communities, create new communities and support jobs, tourism, and investment.” Belfast City Council is already exploring funding options for a new bridge linking Sailortown to Titanic Quarter. “Communities, particularly those that bound the river need to also have ownership of the regeneration, feel the direct benefits and have direct say and involvement in decisions going forward including representation on the Waterfront Task Group,” she added. The framework is based around nine distinctive character areas, including Sailortown, Harbour Park and Harbour Wharf near Titanic Belfast, Gateways centred around the Lagan Weir, and Up River, which stretches to Ormeau Park. It contains practical design guidance and a toolkit of development options to help balance community, nature, and development. There are plans for new pedestrian and cycle bridges across the Victoria Channel, as well as new public spaces, playgrounds, heritage trails, floating boardwalks, businesses and wetlands, moorings and cantilevered decking. By adopting an integrated approach, the Waterfront Promenade hopes to improve the area’s links to the rest of the city, enrich marine habitats and provide a focal point for leisure, employment, cycling, walking and tourism. The initiative is part of a drive to create a stand-out international destination that improves quality of life for residents and showcases Northern Ireland to investors and visitors. The detail of the framework was created by Danish urban design firm Schulze+Grassov. The company has also worked on projects such as Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz and London’s Design District in Greenwich. The Belfast Waterfront Task Group is working towards establishing the Waterfront Promenade as a local policy area so that its design guidelines are adopted by planning authorities. Plans are also under way to create a pilot Waterfront Design Panel with expert voices to peer review proposals along the promenade against guidelines and surrounding context. To send feedback, e-mail julia.cahill@eg.co.uk or tweet @EGJuliaC or @EGPropertyNews Main mage by Marboon from Pixabay. CGIs by Belfast Waterfront Task Group