| Introduction | Urban growth | Belfast CBD | Laganside | Residental Belfast | Sustainable Belfast | QTVR movies | Back to main menu |
Laganside
Many cities in Europe
and North America are rediscovering their waterfronts and Belfast is no exception.
It is claimed that an urban renaissance has begun, under the direction of Laganside
Corporation, the company responsible for producing the change. In the 1970s
and 1980s, the area around the Lagan in the centre of Belfast had suffered from
high unemployment, as the dockyards became more mechanised for example. The
urban environment was dominated by derelict buildings and poor quality housing.
The river itself was polluted and foul smelling at low water.
The Laganside Concept
Plan, published in 1987, explored ways of improving the quality of the River
Lagan and redeveloping areas alongside the river which had declined in economic
importance. In 1989 the government formed the Laganside Corporation. They were
set up to attempt to regenerate the Laganside area socially and economically.
The area of inner city land for which they were given responsibility was on
both banks of the Lagan. The first 140 hectare area for which they were responsible
was extended to include the newly named Cathedral Quarter area which lies to
the north of the City Centre. Laganside Corporation used government money as
a catalyst to bring in money from private investors and encouraged investment
in areas such as employment and recreation. In all £665 million has been
invested in and close to the Laganside area since then.
Living and working beside the river has again become an established feature
of Belfast. The River Lagan has been reinvented as a key attraction in a thriving
city centre. Streets and buildings which 10 years ago were scenes of neglect
and dereliction have been refurbished and new buildings and new public areas
have been developed.
The
Waterfront Hall, the Odyssey Centre and Lanyon Place have all been developed
with great success. Much was learned from other similar initiatives, such as
the London Docklands. Many local people in the docklands areas of London resented
the changes that the London Docklands Development Corporation brought about.
The Laganside Corporation have tried to work with local people and have kept
them informed of the changes. This has apparently been successful in reducing
resentment. Many of the redeveloped areas have mixed land use with expensive
city centre apartments rubbing shoulders with businesses. For example, in Clarendon
Dock (see photograph) offices such as Phoenix Natural Gas, Prudential Assurance
Society and CCEA, mingle with expensive flats.
At May's Meadows, which was once where cattle and sheep grazed close to the markets, is now home to 140 apartments (including 48 housing units provided by a housing association for tenants who qualify for social housing). In the same site is a bar and restaurant complex, a Call Centre the Hilton Hotel and offices.
For more detail on
Laganside go to www.laganside.com.
| Home |