The £1.5million project was initiated by the former Laganside Corporation and work commenced in December last year. The completed scheme has transformed Lower Chichester Street by the removal of the last remaining security barriers and sangers in the city centre and creating an attractive link between the regenerated waterfront, Victoria Square and the City Centre.
The radical makeover has opened up the whole area to pedestrians and cyclists and will shortly facilitate a designated bus route servicing wider Belfast cutting out the current detour via Queen’s Square and Oxford Street during peak traffic times. Lawns and trees have been planted to add colour to the physical works.
The completed works provide a more fitting setting for the Royal Courts of Justice, Laganside Courts and give people the opportunity to fully appreciate the award winning Bar Library.
Speaking at today’s launch, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie, whose remit includes City Centre regeneration, said:
“We don’t have to cast our minds back very far to remember Lower Chichester Street as a rather forbidding stretch of street due to the very necessary security infrastructure that existed around the Law Courts. It is, therefore, very gratifying for me to mark the completion of the site works on two levels.
“On one level, Lower Chichester Street affirms Belfast’s unrelenting move towards normality and on another level serves as an inspiring forerunner to my Department’s ‘Belfast: Street’s Ahead’ initiative, the aim of which is to provide world class spaces at the heart of the City.
“As a result of the completed scheme, Lower Chichester Street has become a shared space offering a superb view of the iconic Waterfront Hall and regenerated river beyond as well as a fitting stage for the award-winning Bar Library, the historic old Town Hall and the Royal Courts of Justice.
The Scheme has been implemented by DRD Roads Service on behalf of the Department for Social Development.
Notes to Editors:
1. The design team, appointed by Laganside Corporation, comprised Ferguson McIlveen (now Scott Wilson) as Landscape Architects and Lead Designers; McAdam Design as Civil Engineers and White Young Green as Project Manager.
2. The design and implementation of the scheme has been taken forward in discussion with the NI Courts Service, NIO and PSNI.
3. The following bus services will access Lower Chichester Street between 8am and 8pm:
- Route no 6a – 6 buses per hour – Cregagh/ Forestside
- Route no 18 – 2 buses per hour – Gilnahirk
- Route no 19 – 2 buses per hour – Tullycarnet/Dundonald
- Route no 27 – 1 bus per hour – Old Holywood/Knocknagoney
- Route no 28 – 1 bus per hour – Garnerville/Redburn
4. Bus timetable information can be obtained from the Translink call centre on 028 9066 630 or at on the Translink website 
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5. Media enquiries only to the DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 440 and your call will be returned.
