J3477 : Giant's Park sign, Belfast - June 2017(1)
taken 8 years ago, 4 km NNE of Belfast, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland
The landfill site at the north foreshore (Co Antrim side) of Belfast Lough was in use from 1958 to 2007. Now covered by grass Belfast City Council is considering futures uses for the site (20 February 2014) “At more than 340 acres, the North Foreshore of Belfast Lough is the largest development site in the city. The former landfill facility is managed by the council, and plans are underway to develop a green economy business park on the site, which is next to the M2 motorway . . . . Options may include sites suitable for businesses involving in reducing waste, recycling materials, environmental research and renewable energy. The North Foreshore will also provide new areas for recreation and leisure but, again, no decision has been taken about how it will be developed for these purposes”.
The southern part of the site, close to the Dargan Road, has the following planning permission (26 February 2016) “LA04/2015/1605/F Film studios complex comprising production, studio and workshop buildings, associated service yards, car parking, access to service roads under construction (Z/2014/1279/F), landscaping and ancillary works including 3No stand alone transformer compounds, security hut and proposed headwall (amended description) Land approximately 300m north of Dargan Road (North of Belfast City Council Waste Management Facility) adjacent to Belfast Lough Belfast (within wider Belfast City Council lands known as North Foreshore/Giant's park with access from Dargan Road)“.
The following is a quotation from a Belfast Harbour statement dated 21 April 2016 “Work on Belfast’s newest film studio has begun ‘on location’ at Giant’s Park, Belfast. The £20m project, which will include over 120,000 sq ft of studios, workshops and offices, is being developed by Belfast Harbour.”