24 WATERFRONT


Critical regeneration project in Northern Ireland


A


design by TODD Architects for the £50 million regeneration of Queen’s Parade, a 5.26 hectare


(13 acre) waterfront site in Bangor, near Belfast, Northern Ireland, has been submitted for planning. The scheme will see Bangor’s Marine Gardens returned to its heyday of Victorian seaside elegance whilst creating a vibrant mixed- use development of residential, hotel, office, retail and cultural and recreation floor space in the heart of the town centre. The Queen’s Parade project, led


by developer Bangor Marine Ltd, is unfolding in conjunction with the Department for Communities and Ards and North Down Council. It aims to create a premier year- round waterfront destination for Bangor and for Northern Ireland and is seen as critical to the future of the town and maximising the


Artist’s impression of Queen’s Parade in Bangor, Northern Ireland.


economic growth potential of the wider borough of Ards and North Down. It forms part of a combined investment of £110 million in Bangor over the next ten years that is set to generate new jobs,


Prime objective


A view overlooking Five Gold Anchors Bangor Marina operated by Quay Marinas.


A prime objective has been to re-stitch the town back together, with TODD Architects’ design for Queen’s Parade placing great emphasis on maintaining and creating connectivity through linked lanes and streets, whilst also providing welcoming, social spaces. The scheme seeks to reconnect people to both the town and the sea, with one of the key elements being the creation of an elevated Market Square overlooking Bangor Marina to Belfast Lough beyond. It offers the town a different relationship to the water and creates a distinctive character of space


to the seafront Marine Gardens. The waterfront will be re-activated


by creating all-year-round places and spaces to enjoy the water. A lively and inclusive public realm, elegant contemporary promenade and flexible outdoor event space will include cafes, sheltered promenade with kiosks, alongside the beach, children’s play area and water feature. These will be complemented by the residential and hotel elements, which are key to providing 24/7 footfall. Nigel continued, “Bringing new homes, office space and a hotel into the town


MARINA INDUSTRY • FEBRUARY 2020


centre also has a significant role to play in the regeneration of the area, improving the town centre’s viability by creating a critical mass of people in one place that can sustain the town’s other uses more effectively. At a time when the vitality of our high streets and town centres is of significant concern, these plans provide a template to reinvigorate the town centre through the delivery of a high quality, mixed use proposal to secure long-term benefits for Bangor, creating employment, attracting visitors and stimulating further investment for the town and the local area”.


shops, offices, homes and tourist attractions. Nigel Murray, Associate at TODD


Architects, said: “This is a rare project, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to define the town


for generations to come. The design takes its direction from the unique character of Bangor as a seaside town, marrying old and new, responding to the needs of residents and visitors alike”.


Joint


venture


Bangor Marine is a joint venture partnership between the Karl Group, a property development company, and leading Northern Ireland contractor Farrans, which has been created specifically to deliver the project. TODD Architects is the architect lead and, together with commercial planning consultancy Turley, has led the delivery of the planning application submission for the Queen’s Parade area as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team, including Atkins as transport engineers and Park Hood as landscape architects, with Wayne Hemingway as brand and vision consultant.


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