Gasworks Estate: Reconversion of a derelict industrial area - Belfast, UK

Belfast must move from an over reliance on its declining manufacturing sector and invest in new industries and in the burgeoning knowledge economy. Belfast has to strike a sustainable balance between achieving strong economic growth and providing a world class quality of life for its citizens.
Although Belfast remains the largest city within the region, it has experienced a significant decline in population over the past decade.

The area was characterized by the follwoing problems:

• Unwanted and dangerous structures;
• High concentration of long-term unemployment
• The Gasworks Site is located at a sectarian interface with two religious communities with a history of inter community conflict, social unrest, social deprivation and high unemployment;

The Project Area is a 10-hectare former industrial site known as the Gasworks Estate, which is located close to Belfast City Centre and backing onto the River Lagan. The site lay vacant for many years with the gas silos and other structures still in place but in a dangerous and dilapidated state.
The decision to start this inner city regeneration project was based on a desire to transform what was a derelict, heavily polluted and unpleasant area of inner city land into an attractive, environmentally healthy and functional part of the City for the benefit of all those who live and work there.
The aim of the project was to enhance the quality of life of those living in these communities, provide a source of employment, act as a catalyst for inner city regeneration, and strengthen, revitalise and ‘narrow the gap’ between the best and worst neighbourhoods within the city.
The land was acquired by Belfast City Council in 1990 and as a first step, unwanted and dangerous structures were demolished, the ground tidied up and visible contaminants removed.
Following decontamination of the site, estate roads, services and other infrastructure works were carried out by Belfast City Council and a public realm area, pedestrian walkways and a large water feature created. The remainder of the site was then sub-divided into serviced development plots and development agreements were entered into with private sector Developers on an equity sharing basis. This was followed by the redevelopment of the site with both new commercial buildings and the refurbishment of retained buildings of historic and architectural interest. An area of land on the Northern fringe of the site was redeveloped as social housing. In 2001, a local labour market intervention was conceived as a complement of the Gasworks project.

The following physical and urban planning measures were carried out in the practice:

• Industrial site clearance
• Public space development
• Demolition of unwanted and dangerous structures
• Restoration and re-use of buildings of historic and architectural interest
• Local employment initiative

Laganside Corporation was Belfast City Councils partner through the initial site planning and development stages.  Laganside continue to work closely with Belfast City Council through the Gasworks Steering Group which guides the current and future strategic aims of the Gasworks site.

During the first phase, the demolition and clearance of the area was the main priority. Later on, economic and social programmes were also given priority. 

The key resluts were the creation of:

• A Public Park with Water Feature;
• A Pedestrian walkways with links to riverside walkways and inner city;
• Restoration and re-use of buildings of historic and architectural interest;
• Retail, conferencing and entertainment venues plus 32 bedroom Radisson Hotel;
• Start-Up Workshops; 
• Offices (50,000 m2);
• 92 Social Housing Units for elderly Chinese (an ethnic minority within the city);
• 2,500 jobs created with a predicted total of 3,750.

Inhabitants of the area

City Council of Belfast
Ms Laura Leonard (European Manager Development Department), tel. +44 (0) 28 90 32 02 02