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One of the largest waterfront, urban regeneration projects in Europe, the Titanic Quarter’s masterplan includes a Financial Services Centre, offices, hotels, residential units and live/work units as well as commercial, leisure, education, local retail and R&D space. Boosting Belfast’s economy and skyline, over 2,000 people in 80 companies already work in the development with over 10,000 residents and 20,000 new jobs anticipated upon completion.
The Turley Associates’ Belfast team is proud of its work in helping to bring reality to the vision of this major regeneration project. The former shipbuilding site at Belfast Harbour was renamed Titanic Quarter in 2003 when Dublin based developer, Harcourt Developments, bought the development rights to the site from the Belfast Harbour Commissioners. Since then Turley Associates has been retained as planners and contributed as masterplanners for the new company - Titanic Quarter Ltd.
Initially we prepared the Development Framework for the entire 75 ha site, which was eventually agreed by DoE Planning. We then took part in the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan Public Inquiry to ensure that draft zonings for Titanic Quarter were amended. We also obtained early approvals for major development in Phase 1 – mainly residential, leisure and offices. Following our strategic advice, a Titanic Quarter Steering Group representing a wide range of stakeholders was set up in 2004. The group has met regularly since then to contribute to the ongoing planning and development decisions. Our role has been to facilitate these meetings.
Alongside Civic Arts, international masterplanners, we progressed two major masterplans for Phases II and III (20 and 18 ha sites respectively). We obtained appropriately conditioned permissions for these major outline and full planning applications. These applications contained associated Design Statements and Environmental Impact Assessments which dealt with a wide range of issues including flood risk, contamination, archaeology and visual impact.
In total we have obtained planning approval for some 30 developments within the first three phases of TQ (outline, full and reserved matters applications). We have also secured appropriate listed building and scheduled monuments consents. Each block had its own project architect at reserved matters stage and our role was to co-ordinate the design teams and application packages. To date, a number of major buildings have been constructed within Phases I and II including residential blocks, a Gateway Office Building (anchored by Citi Group), a new Public Records Office, the new Belfast Metropolitan College campus and the recently completed Titanic Belfast building.
After opening in April 2012, it is predicted that 400,000 people per year will visit the Titanic Belfast. This iconic £97m building commemorates the shipbuilding industry and the centenary of the first, fateful voyage of the ship. Designed by Civic Arts and Todd Architects, this major feat of construction represents in plan form the White Star Line which was the parent company that owned the Titanic, Britannic and Olympic ships.
The Titanic Experience is made up of a number of interactive exhibitions/galleries and at the top a conference centre/ballroom in which are located the replica grand main stairway from the Titanic. Other facilities include cafés, restaurants and gift shops at the ground floor.
Our role was to obtain all planning permissions, and to discharge and make any amendments to the conditions that were necessary to ensure the building opened on time.
Beyond the Titanic Belfast building itself, Turley Associates also submitted applications for the public realm around the building – Titanic Place – and the pavilions on that space. The route of the Titanic, which left Belfast to go on to Cork (via Southampton) before embarking on the doomed journey across the Atlantic forms part of the public realm surrounding the building – which can be viewed from the upper levels.
Adjacent to the building lie the Titanic and Olympic slipways from which the ship was initially launched. We received planning approval and scheduled monument consent for plans for this space which is three times the size of Trafalgar Square.
We worked closely with the architect to ensure that NIEA: Historic Monuments Unit was satisfied with the restoration plans including a memorial to all those who died on the ship. The multi-functional open space will be used for future outdoor events with the first major event happening on 13 April 2012 when MTV presents “Titanic Sounds” headlined by Ollie Murs.
Whilst the recession has caused some rethinking of the phasing of development and delayed some new building starts, optimism about the future of this mixed use new urban quarter remains high. There are current plans for new film studios and other employment uses.
The anticipated influx of tourists will hopefully attract new hotel operators to the Titanic Quarter (where four planning approvals await funding) and an anticipated change in corporation tax could see sufficient demand for accommodation in the approved Financial Services Campus to encourage such a major investment. Investment in a rapid transit scheme and off-site road improvements are awaiting improvements in the local economy.
In terms of creating a community, the new student population and the new residents are now pastorally cared for by the Rev Chris Bennett. Appointed Chaplain to the Titanic Quarter, he has opened a temporary restaurant/drop in centre at the waterfront where all denominations are welcome.
We are continuing to work with Titanic Quarter Ltd to ensure that this new quarter maintains its high quality and is developed out as a coherent piece of the city over the next two decades.