Belfast: Streets Ahead

Phase 1 of the Belfast: Streets Ahead programme has dramatically improved the parts of Belfast City Centre the public have access to. They enhancements included the provision of new street furniture, street lighting, signs and landscaping. New public art was installed in Arthur Square and Donegall Place.

Project Aims

Improving the appearance and quality of the City Centre to:

bring investment in from outside Northern Ireland,
encourage business development,
attract more tourists and
contribute to a reduction in crime by making the city centre safer and more people-friendly with well lit and active streets.

Phase 1 of the project was brought to completion with the switch on of the feature mast lighting in Donegall Place by Social Development Minster Nelson McCausland on the 13^th October 2011.

The project which provided much needed jobs in construction has revitalised 14 of Belfast city centre’s faded streets. This £28 million investment commenced in June 2007 and has seen the old street surfaces and furnishing being replaced with new granite paving, street furniture including seating, bins and new street lighting and new public art.

The project has given Belfast a new modern look, enhancing the retail environment and improved the linkages between the Cornmarket and Fountain areas and making the city more accessible.

The new traffic layout in Donegall Place has enabled the pavements to be extended and along with the upgrading of the surrounding streets has made Belfast city centre more pedestrian friendly, more attractive to shoppers and to all who visit the city. It has also enhanced Belfast as a premier European capital city.

The Feature Masts in Donegall Place and The Spirit of Belfast located in Cornmarket give Belfast a distinctiveness and sense of place providing an interest for all who visit the city and will provide positive memories of Belfast

The 8 feature lighting masts which have been installed along the east side of Donegall Place celebrate Northern Ireland’s industrial maritime heritage and each one commemorates one of the great White Star Line ships build in Belfast by Harland and Wolff.

Each mast has been adorned with a decorative banner which depicts images of the ship it has been named after. In addition, strip lighting will illuminate each mast at night and this can be used for display purposes to mark events such as the Christmas switch-on and New Year celebrations.

For more information on the Iconic Feature Lighting Masts for Belfast City Centre