The delivery of a high-quality public space by upgrading and revitalising Belfast city centre, improving the streets with natural stone paving and the comprehensive improvement of all street furniture, lighting, signage and billboards.
Client
Department for Social Development NI
The Project
The aims of the Belfast Streets Ahead project, as defined by the Department for Social Development were to:
- bring investment in from outside Northern Ireland,
- encourage business development,
- attract more tourists and
- contribute to a reduction in crime by making the city centre safer and more people-friendly with well-lit and active streets.
Farrans played an important role aiding the realisation of these aims by improving the streets with natural stone paving and the comprehensive improvement of all street furniture, lighting, signage and billboards.
The granite paving that was used is unique to the area and was sourced from the Far East, while the road make up is designed to BS 7533 standards. It consists of reinforced 40N concrete base with a natural stone bedding and 150mm of natural stone. Although primarily pedestrian the heavy construction of the streets had to be able to support delivery vehicles which pass through every morning.
Services & Expertise
The construction site was located in a heavily congested public space and required pre-planning to comply with health and safety, quality and the environment as well functioning to minimise noise, dust and disruption. The underlying ground conditions were also poor as a result of insufficient regulation of the many new service providers within the build area.
The project demanded a full-time customer care co-ordinator who acted as the point of reference with the general public and local businesses through a Customer Contact Centre. They were tasked with proactively communicating through progress updates, project website and media channels.
The Belfast Streets Ahead project has been a vital offering to the economic vitality of Belfast City Centre, making it a premier European destination that rivals and stands up to other regional cities.