Belfast Harbour is bringing forward plans to develop an Iconic Waterfront for the City, creating a safe year-round destination and amenity space at City Quays, for the people of Belfast and visitors to the city
We are consulting on the first phase of these exciting plans, please see below for further information, to download our information pack, and provide feedback.
Maritime-Inspired
Design
The project is influenced by the site’s unique industrial and ship building heritage and the River Lagan waterside location. Building upon the Maritime Mile aspirations, the proposals seek to integrate but differentiate City Quays Gardens from the wider waterfront to define this as a destination and place in its own right.
Environmental
Excellence
City Quays Gardens is the first One Planet Living development in Northern Ireland. One Planet Living seeks to create a world where everyone, everywhere lives happy, healthy lives within the limits of the planet, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness.
The re-greening of City Quays Gardens is a key element of the design vision. The scheme aims to enhance biodiversity, improve air quality, create shade and shelter, improve connections to nature and respond to and reflect the natural Lagan landscape.
Community
Vibrancy
City Quays Gardens aims to create a sense of place that better connects communities to the regeneration within City Quays. The Gardens will offer a year-round programme of animation delivered in conjunction with Maritime Belfast Trust.
The design of City Quays Gardens seeks to provide a space to promote interaction, community gathering, improved health and well-being of visitors and local communities.
The public realm has been designed to accommodate small to medium sized events in a variety of locations across the gardens. It is envisaged that the events spaces could be used in isolation or together to a combined capacity of circa 2,200 guests. Lighting interventions will be in place to guide visitors to and through the gardens via a series of destinations
Sustainable
Travel
City Quays Gardens is proposed as a public realm space permeable to active travel.
The proposals also seek to enhance cycle connections and include a potential off-road alternative cycle route which may also form a direct connection to the possible new pedestrian and cycle bridge. City Quays Gardens plans to establish the reconnection of the National Cycle Network to the area.
The site benefits from being located a short walking distance from the city centre and its wider public transport network.
Green,
open space
The design maximises sunny, south-facing aspects for leisure activities with street furniture placed to make the most of sunny aspects, while providing opportunities for sheltered spaces for year-round useability.
Future
Phases
City Quays Gardens is proposed as the first in a number of landmark developments which will be delivered in future phases by Belfast Harbour. The proposed development of City Quays Gardens, is the subject of the current voluntary pre-application community consultation.
Our digital public information event took place on Wednesday 13th October.
To watch the recording of this event, please see the video below