A planned 140-metre bridge linking Belfast's Sailortown and the Titanic Quarter will include an opening section to allow boats to pass, the council has revealed.
There are hopes the new walking and cycling bridge will be built, after Belfast City Council this month confirmed it will take up the role of contracting authority and oversee the procurement and management of the project.
Money to further the development of the project from the Stormont Department for Infrastructure was confirmed at a committee meeting at City Hall this month.
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At the council’s May meeting of the council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee, elected representatives received an update on funding received from the Department for Infrastructure to support “connectivity, placemaking and active travel projects” aligned with the council’s 'A Bolder Vision' document - in this case, the 'Embracing the River' section.
The council made the applications for funding from Stormont in January this year, and have not publicly disclosed the amount on offer for the bridge development plan.
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: “The feasibility study for the Sailortown Bridge was funded by Shared Island as part of a wider partnership with Cork City Council to develop docklands regeneration opportunities in both cities.
“Council secured funding from [the Stormont] Department for Infrastructure to develop designs to RIBA Stage 2 and capital funding is currently being sought to deliver the bridge. The proposed bridge will span approximately 140 metres and will include an opening section so that maritime access can continue upstream after the bridge is built.”
The spokesperson said concept designs and artist images of the proposed bridge will be available later during the development for RIBA Stage 2.
The initial feasibility part of the development plan was connected to the Cork/Belfast Docklands Regeneration Initiative, a programme covered by the Shared Island Fund, an initiative by the government in the Republic set up to “promote practical North/South cooperation”.
The council officer report to the City Growth and Regeneration Committee this month states: “The proposed bridge would provide a new iconic and distinctive cross harbour cycle and walking swing bridge that could complete the Harbour Loop. (It will) provide connections between Sailortown and North Belfast to economic, educational and opportunities on Queen’s Island as well as providing a critical active travel connection to the newly completed Yorkgate Train Station.”
RIBA Stage 2 includes concept design, technical requirements, cost plan and outline specification. The council says the money will provide “feasibility information, including requirements that will clarify the long-term asset owner and the optimum route to long term operation and maintenance.”
It was previously proposed that under the existing Belfast City Council and Belfast Harbour Commissioner’s Memorandum of Understanding that the Harbour Commissioner would undertake the procurement and project management of the project. This position has changed.
The council states: “Due to operational and procurement constraints it has been agreed that the council will take up the role of the contracting authority and oversee the procurement and project management. A joint BCC/BHC Client Team will remain in place throughout the duration of the project and the scope of services has been drafted and procurement will commence in the coming weeks.”
Part of wider regeneration of area
The Titanic Quarter on Queen's Island was once the centre of the city's shipbuilding industry, while Sailortown was once a flourishing, densely-populated area.
The latter was largely demolished in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for the M2 and Belfast Urban Motorway, which became the M3 Lagan Bridge and Westlink. This century both parts of the city have seen some attempts at regeneration with office and residential developments.
The regeneration of Sailortown in the dockland area of Belfast took a huge leap forward in January 2024 after two major planning applications for residential developments in the area were approved at City Hall.
At the Belfast City Council Planning Committee, elected representatives approved two planning applications at different locations in the historic dockland area, at Pilot Street and City Quays. Both applications were by the Belfast Harbour Harbour Office, Corporation Square.
Councillors agreed the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of an social and affordable housing development comprising 69 residential units at lands bound by Pilot Street, Short Street, the rear of 11 to 29 Garmoyle Street, the rear of 63 and 65a Dock Street and 123 Corporation Street, Belfast.
The development will see a mix of apartments and townhouses, including an ancillary community hub and offices, car parking, and landscaping.
Elected representatives also approved a residential development comprising 256 units and new public realm, at lands immediately north of Cross Harbour Bridge, East of Donegall Quay and south of AC Marriott Hotel, City Quays, Belfast.
The larger development at City Quays involves the erection of a 23 storey tower with lower 12 storey element, comprising 254 Build To Rent apartments. The tower will be 76.4 metres at its highest point.
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