Work on the site of Bangor’s long-awaited £50 million seafront revamp is now intended to commence in January 2025, it has been confirmed.

The new date for the major public realm project at Marine Gardens in the Co Down city centre was announced on Friday by developer Bangor Marine, which is working alongside Ards and North Down Borough Council and the Department for Communities.

Marine Gardens, part of the Queen’s Parade regeneration project, covers 5.25 acres and will include a new play park, two pavilions, kiosks with food and beverage offerings, an events space, and associated landscaping. To be constructed over the course of a year, Marine Gardens aims to provide an inviting new energy and vibrancy to the city’s waterfront destination from 2026 and beyond.

Following submissions by Bangor Marine, the remaining planning matters to facilitate the start of work on site were approved by the Council at its Planning Committee meeting this week. The various required legal agreements are due to be in place by the end of November.

Aran Blackbourne of Bangor Marine, a partnership between Karl and Farrans, said: “The commitment shown to this project by all government departments and the council has been excellent. There has been great teamwork, and everyone has played their part. We were all disappointed to not get started in October, but the legal and planning documents need to be in place. Pulling this all together is extremely challenging with so many different parties involved.

“In the last two months, we have completed and submitted for approval the detailed designs for Marine Gardens, the pavilions, kiosks and shelters, and we have achieved discharge on all 11 planning conditions. Following this week’s meeting we have secured the approval of our amended drainage solution and alterations to phasing.

“We anticipate discharge of final landscaping conditions alongside resolution of legal matters later this month. We have tendered all the main work packages, are working to reach the final agreement with The Crown Estates and have completed exploratory works on the quayside. These are all complex and technical matters that require a heavy investment of time.

“With another critical meeting of the council due to take place in late November, we planned to move our scheduled start forward by a month. However, as we approach December, we are mindful of the desire of retailers in the city centre to have access to the car park during the busy Christmas period. Therefore, it is practical and sensible to look at a commencement date in early January.”

Mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council, Councillor Alistair Cathcart, said: “I know that people in Bangor just want to see work start on the Queen’s Parade redevelopment and that this, albeit short delay, will be met with frustration.

“I would assure residents that while not visible to the public, a huge amount of work to progress the scheme has been delivered by partners in recent months and momentum is high. January is always a reset period and a good time for a new start. I will be following progress carefully to ensure that all efforts are made for this project to be on site as early in January as possible.”

Stormont’s Communities Minister Gordon Lyons added: “Projects of this nature are extremely complex, given the number of stakeholders and work streams, and it is a credit to my Regional Development Office team, Ards and North Down Borough Council, and the developer, Bangor Marine that we have all worked collaboratively to reach this substantial milestone.

“This is a fantastic achievement and one of the final steps towards commencement of construction. After many years of hope and expectation, this project will be genuinely transformational for the people of Bangor and the future City Centre economy. I look forward to seeing this work start in the new year.”

Marine Gardens, which forms part of the Queen’s Parade regeneration project, secured UK ‘Local Government Funding’ (previously known as Levelling Up Funding) with Bangor Marine providing private funding of £2m for this public realm element. When the entire project is completed, the Queen’s Parade development will include new homes, a hotel, offices, a market plaza, local retail, cafes and restaurants.

In advance of work beginning, Farrans’ stakeholder and social value team will be present in the area speaking to local businesses, residents, retailers, and government representatives to ensure all are kept apprised of scheduled activity.