The Titanic Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland is a waterfront regeneration project, including apartments, a riverside entertainment district, and a major Titanic-themed attraction under development on reclaimed land in Belfast Harbour, known until recently as Queen's Island. The 185-acre (75 ha) site, previously occupied by part of the Harland and Wolff shipyard, is named after the company's (and city's) most famous product RMS Titanic.
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The area first came to public attention as 'Titanic Park' in 1995, when it was officially opened by U.S. President Bill Clinton during his 'peace mission' to Northern Ireland. Plans accelerated in September 2002 when the former head of public-private investment company Laganside Corporation, Mike Smith, was appointed as Chief Executive of the renamed 'Titanic Quarter'.
Titanic Quarter was largely a brownfield site, notable only for the presence of the abandoned headquarters of Harland & Wolff (now relocated). Since 2005 it has also been the home of the Northern Ireland Science Park, a hi-tech science park affiliated closely with Queen's University Belfast and University of Ulster, and the Paint Hall, a film studio used during the production of films such as City of Ember and Your Highness, and the HBO television series Game of Thrones.[1]
In July 2006, work began on phase one of the development. On 31 October 2006, BBC News reported that Belfast Institute for Further and Higher Education (now Belfast Metropolitan College) plans to build a new £44 million campus in Titanic Quarter, moving from its Belfast city centre sites on Brunswick Street and the aging College Square East building.
In October 2007 the second phase of the development was given planning permission, which includes the development of over 2,000 homes. The application was the largest ever submitted to the Department of the Environment's Planning Service.[2] The Odyssey Complex is adjacent to Titanic Quarter.
Titanic Quarter may eventually develop into a hi-technology orientated village, a new-model futuristic sector, in the mould of Paris's La Défense.[3] In the past, entrepreneurship in specialist technology sectors has been evident in Northern Ireland, in such areas as shipbuilding and aerospace. Harland and Wolff and Shorts Bombardier, the province's two key players in the above industries, have downsized substantially, at the loss of a great number of jobs.
Belfast Harbour Marina was opened in 2009 as part of the Belfast Tall Ships Festival. Located in the Abercorn Basin, it features 40 berths for leisure craft, it was funded by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Belfast Tall Ships 2009 Ltd. It is the forerunner to a future 200 berth marina in the Titanic Quarter.[4]
In November 2010 the first hotel in the Titanic Quarter opened at 2a Queens Road. The Premier Inn features 120 bedrooms and an onsite restaurant. 40 new jobs were created.[5]
Belfast Audi, operated by the Agnew Group, opened its new 41,785 square feet (3,882.0 m2) headquarters and car showroom in November 2010. Located at 80 Sydenham Road, it created 115 new jobs.[6]
The first phase of residential development in the Titanic Quarter was completed in December 2010. The Arc (Abercorn Residential Complex) comprises 474 apartments adjacent to the Abercorn Basin.[7]
The new £30 million headquarters of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland opened at 2 Titanic Boulevard in April 2011.[8]
On 6 July 2011 Data City Exchange announced plans for an £80 million data centre in phase two of the Titanic Quarter’s Financial Services Centre. The project will create 125 construction jobs during building works and 40 full time jobs upon completion in 2012.[9]
In August 2011 the Northern Ireland Science Park announced plans for the construction of a new £6 million building, funded by Barclays, Belfast Harbour Commissioners and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. The new Concourse II building is due to be completed in Summer 2012 and will house a further 500 high tech jobs.[10]
The largest development is the £97M Titanic Belfast building which is progressing well and now holds the record for the island's largest concrete pour. When completed up to 400,000 people will annually visit the attraction which will be owned and run by a charitable foundation.[11]
Titanic Quarter is served by the number 26 Translink bus service, which runs from City Hall to Holywood Exchange, via The Odyssey, Queens Road, Northern Ireland Science Park and Short Brothers.
The area is also served by NI Railways services to Bridge End station .