Connswater Community Greenway

The purpose of Connswater Community Greenway was to deliver a transformative, large-scale landscape project for an area of East Belfast, which was one of the most deprived in the UK.

With the community, it was agreed that the project should create safe, connected open spaces that would contribute to improved education, health, safety, environment, quality of life and culture.

The Paul Hogarth Company, as Landscape Architects, have led the design since 2001. We developed the overall Masterplan then designed and delivered Phase 2 (£28 million) of the Greenway, including:

- 15Ha inner-city parkland
- 12Km of foot and cycle paths
- C.S Lewis Square new events space
- 14 new/improved bridges and crossings
- Connecting 23 schools and colleges
- 4km of rivers cleaned and flood alleviation provided
- Wildlife corridor from Belfast Lough to Castlereagh Hills

We have been central to the community/stakeholder engagement, involving many of the 40,000 local people in shaping the design, participating in community planting, and through the blog and book that we produced, helping the community to celebrate the landscape that they now enjoy.

The project has addressed the acute needs that were identified, transforming the area and dramatically improving the quality of life. This is demonstrated by:

- Economic return is estimated to be up to 14 times the investment (up to £500m)
- The flood alleviation works is estimated to have delivered savings of £54.7m
- If only 2% of those people living nearby the Greenway who are currently inactive become active as a result of the Greenway, over 40 years, then: this will cover the costs of the walkways, bridges and lighting

This is a unique project in which landscape architects have from the outset played a central role. This has involved collaborating over a long period of time to secure buy-in from all parties, underpinning a lasting legacy of the project.

Overview

  • Project Name

    Connswater Community Greenway

  • Location

    Connswater, East Belfast, Northern Ireland

  • Category

    Masterplanning and urban design

  • Landscape Architect

    The Paul Hogarth Company Limited

  • Client

    Connswater Community Greenway

  • Brief

    Following questions in parliament about deprivation levels in East Belfast it was agreed that there was a need for significant intervention that would impact positively on: - The health and general well-being of the people - Improvements to the physical environment - Community cohesion Working with the local community and political representatives we developed the concept of bringing the rivers in East Belfast back into use as the focus for regeneration. We were then appointed to develop this idea into the Connswater Community Greenway. This strategic work defined the brief further, with the fulfillment of the above outcomes central to all stages of design and construction. Following two years of severe flooding in East Belfast, it was agreed that flood alleviation works should be funded and incorporated into the project in a ‘joined up manner’.

  • Awards

    Finalist, Landscape Institute Awards 2019

Details

  • Project Team

    Client: Belfast City Council Owner: Connswater Community Greenway Landscape Architect: The Paul Hogarth Company Masterplanner: The Paul Hogarth Company Project Manager & Engineer: ARUP Contractor: FARRANS

  • Local planning authority or government body

    Belfast City Council

  • Year Completed

    2018

  • Project Size

    15 ha

  • Contract Value

    £40m

  • Additional Information

    The Connswater Community Greenway is a linear park through East Belfast, following the course of the Connswater, Knock and Loop Rivers, connecting the open and green spaces and incorporating a flood alleviation scheme to protect over 1700 properties. The Greenway has created vibrant, attractive, safe and accessible parkland for leisure, recreation, community events and activities. It is a £40 million investment in East Belfast. The project has been developed by the EastSide Partnership and has been delivered by Belfast City Council. It is funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Belfast City Council, the Department for Communities and Department for Infrastructure.

  • The Paul Hogarth Company Limited

    Registered Practice - (6 - 10 Employees)
    Profile

  • Approximate Map Location

    Location

    Connswater, East Belfast, Northern Ireland

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