A Green Makeover for Queen’s Quay on Belfast’s Waterfront

A new planter on Queen’s Quay in Belfast has transformed a vacant area of land into an attractive green space with some of the best views of the city’s waterfront and the Maritime Mile.

Featuring integrated seating, native plants and bug hotels, the planter has been installed by Maritime Belfast Trust with support from Belfast City Council and the Department for Communities. Located on Queen’s Quay between the Odyssey Arena and the Lagan Weir pedestrian bridge, the new planter is part of ongoing plans to develop Belfast’s historic waterfront as a vibrant, connected experience.

Maritime Belfast Trust, the charity which preserves and promotes Belfast’s rich maritime heritage, received support from Belfast City Council’s Grey to Green initiative which aims to improve or create new green spaces across the city, increase city centre biodiversity, and re-introduce native species to the city.

Chief Executive of Maritime Belfast, Kerrie Sweeney welcomed the initiative: “Queen’s Quay is the gateway to the Maritime Mile, and adding the planter has made such a positive change to the area. We are delighted to have had the support from Belfast City Council and the Department for Communities to transform the area as part of our wider ambitions for Belfast’s waterfront. The planter can be enjoyed by all our local neighbourhoods and visitors to the area, and we’ve installed bug hotels and pollinator plants to encourage butterflies, bees, and invertebrates to use the planter as well.  The bug hotels are made from keelblocks from the Hamilton Dock, a great example of adapting a circular economy approach with the re-use of heritage materials. We look forward to adding further projects to the Maritime Mile to enhance our iconic waterfront.”

Councillor Sam Nelson, Chair of Belfast City Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee said: “A Bolder Vision for Belfast highlights the importance of creating a greener and more accessible city. So we’re delighted to see Maritime Belfast Trust greening this previously vacant area of land and enhancing the Maritime Mile’s attractiveness and connectivity.

“Through Grey to Green, we’ve also helped to create The BUG – Belfast’s Urban Garden on Kent Street. It offers a fantastic, free opportunity to connect with nature and community in the heart of our city centre. It’s supporting biodiversity, helping to combat pollution, and improving the city centre’s overall appeal and liveability. We’ve also funded Belfast South Community Resources to transform a derelict site on the corner of Sandy Row and Wellwood Street into a temporary community garden, ‘Sandy Glade’. A green wall is currently being constructed by Kilultagh Estates on Linenhall Street, and we’ve funded BID One to install two giant bee structures at 2 Royal Avenue and Bank Square to signify our shared commitment to creating ‘lively, safe, and green streets’.”

Maritime Belfast is working with the Waterfront Task Group to create a new development framework for the area and a sustainable future for Belfast’s iconic waterfront. The framework will support net zero aspirations, specifically reducing lifestyle-carbon by enhancing active travel options and connecting multiple urban neighbourhoods with the city’s waterfront promenade, increasing habitats, and creating welcoming environments for wildlife.

As part of the green makeover of Queens Quay, Maritime Belfast engaged with RSPB, BugLife and the Department for Communities’ River Warden on natural habitats to encourage birds and wildlife. To find out more, visit Greening the Maritime Mile on Maritime-mile.com.

The planter project was delivered by the Paul Hogarth Company and Totalis Construction.