Bangor Waterfront is set to get a £40m facelift with funding secured so work can begin to deliver this ambitious 10-year plan.
It has been proposed the project will connect the city to the sea through a range of sustainable, world-class visitor and leisure attractions/experiences.
The Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment represents an investment of circa £73 million in a 2-mile stretch of the city’s coastline, with £40m of that total now secure.
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This is how the money will be spent in different areas along the coastline, Ards and North Down Borough Council has said:
Public Realm
Ards and North Down Borough Council propose to "make a significant investment in new public realm features along the waterfront, making the everyday spaces that people move through, and linger within, as attractive as they can be; ‘instagram-able’."
They said travelling from Skippingstone in the west to Ballyholme in the east (or vice versa) "should be a real voyage of discovery" and they intend to use creative signage, pathways and artistic features to encourage more people to enjoy the journey.
Particular attention will be given to: Skippingstone Beach (multi-use pods for beach activities, accessibility features, feature lighting/benches) and Ballyholme (watersports opportunities, feature lighting/ surfacing).
Pickie Family Fun Park
The council said with some enhancements and new features they think Pickie can continue to attract and delight families for many more years to come.
"We are proposing the development of new all-weather attractions for both children and young adults, and feature landscaping so it better integrates with the new public realm along the coastline," the council said on its website.
An extension to the Pickie Puffer (train ride), that will take visitors from Pickie to the Queen’s Parade area is also part of the proposals.
Bangor Marina
Bangor Marina, built in 1989, is one of the largest 5 gold anchor accredited marina developments on the island of Ireland and is the largest in Northern Ireland, attracting a considerable number of vessels.
The council said some of its infrastructure is critical to safe and effective operations and cannot be moved, however "a level of redesign will enable us to increase the number of seafaring visitors to Bangor and to open up the space, making it easier for people to enjoy the sea views".
The proposals recommend redeveloping Bregenz House as a mixed-use development in a new cluster with iconic and high-quality architecture.
The redesign will include additional public access with dropped boardwalks, seating and viewing areas and the opportunity for cafés/ restaurants integrated into the Marina.
There is also an opportunity to integrate with the plans for the private sector-led Queen’s Parade development, to create a new marine gardens with formal and informal spaces for events and activities, further supporting the leisure and creative sectors within Bangor.
Ballyholme Yacht Club and Water Sports Centre
The council said they believe this peninsula "affords the opportunity to create a state-of-the-art destination for sports and relaxation; a waterfront park to rival the best in Europe".
It is home to Ballyholme Yacht Club (BYC), which has been identified as the preferred location within Northern Ireland for major sailing and watersports events by the Royal Yachting Association. The redevelopment of BYC would provide Bangor with a world class facility for water sports and the ability to host international events.
Supporting this the council propose to enhance the area as a hub for residents and visitors alike with enhanced facilities and promenades.
Open House
Having considered a range of options for a music hub as part of the Waterfront Development, the council are proposing further developing and building on the Open House plans to create a Phase 2. This will see the capacity of the building double in size to include additional event and performance spaces and creative work spaces that will further ensure the sustainability of the venue as a significant music and creative hub for the Borough.
What happens now
Ards and North Down Borough Council will be receiving £40 million funding for its Bangor Waterfront Development as part of the Belfast Region City Deal. The news comes a year after UK and NI Executive Ministers signed the first ever City Deal for Northern Ireland in December 2021.
The Belfast Region City Deal unlocks £1 billion of co-investment that will deliver more than 20 highly ambitious projects and programmes, create up to 20,000 new jobs and make the region a global investment destination over the next decade.
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Karen Douglas, said: “This is a significant milestone to an exciting new future for the City of Bangor. As the programme of works rolls out over the next 10 years, this redevelopment of the waterfront will bring benefits and opportunities to residents, businesses, and to the wider Borough as a whole. I am very much looking forward to seeing Bangor firmly back on the map as a place to live, work and visit.”
Gerard Murray, Director of the Department for Communities’ Regional Development Office, said: “The Department for Communities is working closely with Ards and North Down Borough Council to support the development and delivery of the Bangor Waterfront Project supported by the Belfast Region City Deal.
“The agreement of the Contract for Funding is a significant milestone and an indication of the excellent collaboration between central and local government to deliver this exciting project. With the recent planning approval for the regeneration of Queen’s Parade by Bangor Marine, this really is an exciting time for the City. Bangor’s residents and visitors can look forward to a revitalised Waterfront reconnecting the city to its marine heritage and re-establishing Bangor as one of our premier tourism and leisure destinations.”
Having received confirmation of funding, the Council will now work through a series of stages as detailed below before any construction begins on the Bangor Waterfront Development.
- Procure consultants to develop design proposals
- Engage and consult with the public and stakeholders
- Secure planning and other statutory approvals
- Develop detailed technical designs and specifications for construction
- Procure a building contractor
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