Main Contractor for Cathedral Gardens (& Blitz Memorial)

Cathedral Gardens is a strategically important public open space in the heart of Belfast City Centre. With the recent development of Ulster University, Cathedral Gardens is now part of an exciting, rapidly developing area of Belfast City Centre. St Anne’s Cathedral, a listed building, lies south of the site across Academy Street.

The existing site is a predominantly hard aging, civic space comprising the following: established trees and raised garden beds; seating integrated into low concrete retaining walls; and open paved surfaces of varied materials which have been repaired and altered over time.

The project is for the provision of the redevelopment of the existing Cathedral Gardens area of Belfast. The project is a public realm environmental improvement scheme and aims to provide Belfast City Centre with an innovative, multifunctional, and digitally driven vision for Cathedral Gardens. Cathedral Gardens is a key area of public open space located next to Ulster University, Writer’s Square, and St Anne’s Cathedral.

Redevelopment of the site will include but is not limited to;

• Site clearance;
• Demolition including the breakout and removal of concrete;
• Decommissioning and infill of existing underground tank and plantroom;
• Isolation and disconnection of NIE metered supply, lighting columns;
• Tree protection and felling works;
• Site preparation works, adjusting existing levels to formation level;
• Soil remediation including capping works to soft landscaped areas and testing of incoming material to soft landscaped areas;
• Validation and verification of land remedial works;
• Ground investigation works;
• Hard and soft landscaping including drainage, ducting, paving, porous asphalt, kerbing, edging, planters, pre-cast concrete, planting shrubbery, trees and pleached trees complete with watering and aeration system, rootball cradles, grass turfing, street furniture, decorative boulders, and boundary treatment works;
• Retaining walls;
• SuDs tree pits and rain garden;
• Foundations;
• An interactive lighting experience including associated controls, remote and wireless connectivity, data cabling, network links, lighting control strategy including third party control, licences, commissioning, training, operation manual and after-care. Lighting in the form of catenary lighting on feature columns, including a canopy covered interactive digital play zone and projector provision for digital art displays;
• CCTV system including fold down CCTV camera towers;
• Ducting, cable chambers, feeder pillars including NIE connection, meter and switchgear including testing and commissioning;
• Liaising with statutory authorities including NIE, DfI
• Flood lighting and feature lighting including slip rated ground recessed lighting, bollard lighting, uplight and down-light fittings;
• A public plaza capable of accommodating small to modestly sized events with pop-up electrical services for vendors to connect to;
• An urban forest / woodland garden area to function as a quiet place and to promote wildlife;
• A lawn area next to the university to soften this urban environment and complement university café culture;
• A Blitz memorial to commemorate this WWII tragedy; and
• Retention of Rinty Monaghan statue.