Court House Phase II

Independent charity Open House successfully delivered Phase I of its plans to regenerate Bangor Court House in 2022, establishing a permanent home for the Open House Festival and creating a much‑needed multi‑purpose venue for the city.

As part of the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment, a range of options for a potential music hub were explored. Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) funding was initially allocated to support further development of the Court House site, building on Open House's Phase I proposals to increase capacity for creative events and provide additional performance and workspace, strengthening its role as a cultural venue for Bangor and the wider Borough.

Delivery of a Phase II expansion was dependent on securing adjacent land to provide the additional space for the expanded design. Despite extensive efforts, neither the Council nor Open House were able to acquire the land required. With no practical alternative to increase the building's footprint or achieve the desired capacity, it was accepted by all parties that the project could not progress.

Throughout this process, key stakeholders including Belfast Region City Deal partners and Elected Members were kept fully informed of progress. Open House remains open to discussing other options with Council.

The removal of Phase II from the programme does not place Belfast Region City Deal funding at risk. The Council remains committed to delivering the Bangor Waterfront programme in accordance with the agreed objectives of the Deal.

In light of this, discussions are ongoing with Belfast Region City Deal partners regarding the potential reallocation of funding within the wider Bangor Waterfront programme. Any reallocation will be subject to the agreement of funding partners and will be managed in line with Belfast Region City Deal governance processes.