A huge chunk of the sprawling 340-acre Giant's Park on Belfast's north foreshore is to be transformed from wasteland into a mega "green park" - which could ultimately help solve the city's office-space and open-air venue shortage.
The first sod was cut yesterday on a world-class environmental resource park on 65 acres of what is the biggest regeneration site in Belfast.
Work will begin immediately on building nearly 2km of roads in and out of the Belfast City Council-owned Dargan Road facility, and continue until next spring.
And when the £9.5 million park is eventually completed, it will be ready-made to attract local, national and international investors on one of the biggest new sites and open spaces ever made available in the city.
Giant's Park has already been mooted as a possible concert venue or site for a sports stadium.
Enterprise minister Jonathan Bell said the development of the environmental resource park at Giant’s Park "is great news for Belfast and for Northern Ireland".
He added: “This scheme has the potential to create up to 400 jobs, enhance Northern Ireland’s economic infrastructure, encourage innovation, collaborative research and development, and develop the green economy.
“Bringing together companies working in renewable energy, recycling and other environmental technologies the environmental resource park will develop an innovative clean-tech business cluster, the first of its kind here. This has the potential to make Northern Ireland a world leader in investment in green technology and attract further opportunities.
“The project is part funded through a European funding programme that specifically supports local economic development.
"It is a great example of how local councils can bring forward projects that will specifically address the economic needs of their area and develop solutions that will not only benefit locals businesses but also help them attract inward investment.”
He was joined by Belfast lord mayor Arder Carson and councillor Declan Boyle of the council’s strategic policy and resources committee to formerly cut the sod as development at the site gets under way.
Speaking about the project the Minister said: “The development of a new £9.5m Environmental Resource Park at Giant’s Park is great news for Belfast and for Northern Ireland.
“Bringing together companies working in renewable energy, recycling and other environmental technologies the Environmental Resource Park will develop an innovative Cleantech business cluster, the first of its kind here. This has the potential to make Northern Ireland a world leader in investment in green technology and attract further opportunities.
Mr Carson said: “The development of infrastructure to create an environmental resource park is a welcome first step in turning our ambitious plans for Giant’s Park into a reality, transforming a former landfill facility into an environmentally sustainable asset.
"As the biggest development site in Belfast, this area offers significant potential to deliver jobs, and demonstrates the council's commitment towards the green economy strand of the Programme for Government and building a resilient city of the future.
Some £6m toward the project is coming from Invest NI and the European Regional Development Fund, with Belfast City Council's £3.5m of support includinh a significant in-kind land contribution.
