This urban waterfront area contains important economic assets including Belfast Waterfront Hall conference and entertainment venue and Lanyon Place transport and commercial hub. The Sirocco site, poised for mixed-use development, will potentially add 1,500 residents in the future.
The public realm adjacent to the Waterfront Hall is good quality and accessible; however, it lacks activation. Public access to the waterfront is also limited by the Waterfront Hall footprint, significant gaps in the promenade network and constrained river crossings.
There is great potential for this prime location for greater access to and interaction with the river. There is an opportunity to take advantage of the non-tidal waters and animate the water’s edge through design interventions that would accommodate floating cafes and boat rentals for example.
There is also ample shoreline for ecological enhancements that can raise awareness about healthy urban rivers.