Laganside Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Laganside Corporation was a non-departmental public body
formed by the Laganside Development (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 with the goal of regenerating large sections of land in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
adjacent to the River Lagan
. This development area was expanded in 1996 to include areas closer to the city centre.
The Lagan riverside suffered in particular from poor environmental conditions and the decline of the shipbuilding
industry in the 1970s and 80s.
The success of the Corporation is exemplified not only by its own undertakings but also by the regeneration of areas surrounding its development area, that is areas for which it has no responsibility. The primary example of this is the Victoria Square (Belfast) shopping development, one of Europe’s biggest commercial developments. And also the Odyssey (Belfast)
one of Irelands largest arenas.
As an example of the areas growing importance to the city; BBC Northern Ireland
use Laganside (specifically the river around Lanyon Place and Mays Meadow) as the backdrop for their local news bulletins, BBC Newsline
.
The corporation was wound up in March 2007 and dissolved in July 2007 when it will have reached its £1 billion investment mark. Its responsibilities will be transferred to the Department for Social Development
.
Non-departmental public body
In the United Kingdom, a non-departmental public body —often referred to as a quango—is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive to certain types of public bodies...
formed by the Laganside Development (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 with the goal of regenerating large sections of land in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
adjacent to the River Lagan
River Lagan
The River Lagan is a major river in Northern Ireland which runs 40 miles from the Slieve Croob mountain in County Down to Belfast where it enters Belfast Lough, an inlet of the Irish Sea. The River Lagan forms much of the border between County Antrim and County Down. It rises as a tiny fast...
. This development area was expanded in 1996 to include areas closer to the city centre.
The Lagan riverside suffered in particular from poor environmental conditions and the decline of the shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
industry in the 1970s and 80s.
The success of the Corporation is exemplified not only by its own undertakings but also by the regeneration of areas surrounding its development area, that is areas for which it has no responsibility. The primary example of this is the Victoria Square (Belfast) shopping development, one of Europe’s biggest commercial developments. And also the Odyssey (Belfast)
Odyssey (Belfast)
The Odyssey Arena is a large sports and entertainment centre situated in Titanic Quarter, Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was jointly funded by the Millennium Commission, the Laganside Corporation, the DCAL, the Sheridan Group and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland. The Arena opened in 2000 with...
one of Irelands largest arenas.
As an example of the areas growing importance to the city; BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...
use Laganside (specifically the river around Lanyon Place and Mays Meadow) as the backdrop for their local news bulletins, BBC Newsline
BBC Newsline
BBC Newsline is the BBC's regional television news service for Northern Ireland. The programme is broadcast on BBC One from BBC Northern Ireland's headquarters in Broadcasting House, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast....
.
The corporation was wound up in March 2007 and dissolved in July 2007 when it will have reached its £1 billion investment mark. Its responsibilities will be transferred to the Department for Social Development
Department for Social Development
The Department for Social Development is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister for Social Development.-Aim:...
.
Objectives
Regeneration of designated areas by:- bringing land and buildings into use
- encouraging investment and development of commerce and both existing and new industry
- creating an attractive environment
- encouraging people to live and work in the area by providing sufficient homes, recreational and cultural facilities
- contribute to the development of a positive international image of the city to encourage investment and tourism.
Developments
- Lagan Weir - the weir, completed in 1994, is built across the Lagan between the Queen Elizabeth Bridge and the M3 bridge (completed around the same time). The Lagan Weir was jointly funded by the Corporation and the European CommissionEuropean CommissionThe European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. The objective of the structure is to keep the level of the river artificially constant, as it is a tidal river the level of the water varied up to three metres between high and low tide. This exposed mudflats which were unsightly and emitted a strong odour, particularly in the summer months. The transformation of the riverside by the construction of the weir has been a catalyst for development along the riverside. Another part of the project is the “Lagan Lookout” centre which explains the history and function of the weir as well as the history of the Lagan itself.
- Lanyon Place - in many ways the flagship development of the Corporation. The Waterfront HallWaterfront HallThe Waterfront Hall is a multi-purpose facility, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, designed by local architects' firm Robinson McIlwaine. Practice partner Peter McGukin was the project architect....
is located on the site as well as Riverside Tower, (headquarters of BT Northern Ireland ) and the 5-star Hilton Hotel. The Lanyon Quay building was added recently. The development is named after architect Charles LanyonCharles LanyonSir Charles Lanyon DL, JP was an English architect of the 19th century. His work is most closely associated with Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Biography:Lanyon was born in Eastbourne, Sussex in 1813...
.
- The OdysseyOdyssey (Belfast)The Odyssey Arena is a large sports and entertainment centre situated in Titanic Quarter, Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was jointly funded by the Millennium Commission, the Laganside Corporation, the DCAL, the Sheridan Group and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland. The Arena opened in 2000 with...
development was Northern Ireland main “Millennium Project.” A budget of £92 million was established; 49% funded by the Millennium CommissionMillennium CommissionThe Millennium Commission in the United Kingdom was set up to aid communities at the end of the 2nd millennium and the start of the 3rd millennium. It used funding raised through the UK National Lottery....
, 11% by the Laganside Corporation, 18.5% by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, 18.5% by the Sheridan Group and 3.3% by the Sports Council. Completed in 2001 facilities include:- Vue multiscreen cinemaVue (cinema)Vue Entertainment , formerly known as SBC International Cinemas, is a cinema company in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The company was formed in May 2003 when SBC acquired 36 Warner Village cinemas. There are now 69 Vue cinemas, with 654 screens totaling 140,500 seats, including the rebranded...
- IMAXIMAXIMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
Cinema - 10,000 seat indoor arena and home of the Belfast GiantsBelfast GiantsThe Belfast Giants are an ice hockey team from Belfast, Northern Ireland that compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Home games are played at the 7,100-capacity Odyssey Arena in Belfast....
ice-hockey team - W5 ("Who when why what where" exhibition)
- Bars, clubs, restaurants and entertainment
- Vue multiscreen cinema
- Gasworks - this is a redevelopment of the city's former Gasworks by Belfast City CouncilBelfast City CouncilBelfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
and Laganside Corporation. The development has retained much of the buildings of the gasworks which was closed in 1988, including the "Klondyke Building" now home to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency which lines the Ormeau RoadOrmeau RoadThe Ormeau Road is a road in south Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ormeau Park is adjacent to it. It forms part of the A24.-History:Having previously been the home of George Chichester, 2nd Marquess of Donegall, a road was first built in 1815, when it was known more commonly as the New Ballynafeigh Road...
and its restored clock tower. The area between this and the Lagan has been cleared, and the site's massive gas holders (once the largest in the world) have been removed. The landmark tenant is the £45 million Halifax call centre building. Other tenants at the site include:- Radisson SAS Hotel
- BBC Technology
- Department for Social Development - Tenants of two buildings namely James House and its lesser cousin The Lighthouse Building
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland - Belfast LVLO - ironically, the site does not provide parking for customers wishing to tax their vehicles but this serves a not so hidden agenda for people to use the services of the agency remotely or by post as a staff cutting exercise in line with the Comprehensive Spending Review.
- Clarendon Dock - the first site to be completed, this has become a major business park as well as the former home to the Corporation when it was in existence.
- Mays Meadow - adjacent to Lanyon Place, has two major financial institutions, an AbbeyAbbey (bank)Abbey National plc was a UK-based bank and former building society, which latterly traded under the Abbey brand name. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo Santander of Spain in 2004, and was rebranded as Santander in January 2010, forming Santander UK along with the savings business of the...
call centre and the local headquarters of PricewaterhouseCoopersPricewaterhouseCoopersPricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
.
- Donegall Quay and The Quays - Donegall Quay is a road linking Oxford Street to Corporation Square. The quay itself is located north of the Lagan Weir, between it and the M3 bridge. In February 2005 Laganside announced the Obel TowerObel TowerThe Obel Tower is a skyscraper in Belfast, Northern Ireland.Costing £60 million and measuring 85 metres in height, the tower dominates the Belfast skyline. On completion it overtook the previous tallest skyscraper in Ireland, Windsor House , also in Belfast...
. The tower will be Northern Ireland's tallest building.
- Custom House Square - the Custom House Square, including the historic Custom House, is intended to improve the link between Laganside and the city centre.
- Cathedral Quarter - the area around St. Anne’s CathedralSt Anne’s Cathedral, BelfastSt Anne's Cathedral, also known as Belfast Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Donegall Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland...
is intended to be an important cultural centre.
- The Sirocco Works - this area is a proposed residential and commercial development opposite Mays Meadow and Lanyon Place. The 16 acre (65,000 m²) site is one of the last large undeveloped areas in the Laganside area. The Sirocco Ropeworks was once the largest rope manufacturer in the world. It later became Howden Sirocco, producing fans and heat exchangers. In 1999 the company was sold for £23 million, and production moved overseas.