Belfast City Council have announced plans for a makeover on seven of the city’s historic entries.
Work is underway to transform Castle Arcade, Crown Entry, Wilson’s Court, Joy’s Entry, Pottinger’s Entry, Cole’s Alley and Winecellar Entry, with plans for regeneration in other entries across the city.
The £870,000 project is scheduled for completion this autumn and has been part funded by the Department for Communities.
Under the plans, previously dark and overlooked entries will become well lit, immersive spaces, with feature lighting using innovative technologies and sustainable materials. Along with general repair works and repainting, there are also plans for bespoke artwork.
Belfast Lord Mayor Alderman Frank McCoubrey said: “Our entries are an important part of our city’s history, but in recent times some have become forgotten and are not used by people because they have seen better days. There is a perception that they are unsafe or unwelcoming.
“This project aims to breathe new life into the entries, to make them more attractive, and also to inspire people to explore their heritage and find out more about their connections to the past.”
During the research phase of the Belfast Entries project, people were asked to share their ideas for the lighting aspect of the project. People asked that the lighting be playful, interactive, and distinct to the city.
Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said: “My department is delighted to be working alongside Belfast City Council to help transform some of Belfast’s most historic entries.
“The entries play a vital part in linking streets and contributing to the vibrancy of the city centre. As the city centre continues to recover from the COVID-19 crisis these entries will provide a key means of moving around our city centre and will contribute to its recovery.”
