Introduction

Keep up to date with news about this project, by joining out mailing list at bangorwaterfront@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

The Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment continues to progress, with two of the key projects within the programme having already reached initial design concept stage.

Pickie Fun Park and Ballyholme Yacht Club Watersports Centre concept designs were presented to the public at two individual drop-in sessions at the end of September and the beginning of October 2025. You can view the individual design proposals here:

Pickie Fun Park - Ards and North Down Borough Council

Ballyholme Yacht Club Water Sports Centre - Ards and North Down Borough Council

A third appointment of a design consultant to design, manage and deliver the largest element within the programme is expected to be announced at the end of November. The 2-mile Urban Waterfront Redevelopment/Public Realm projects starts at Skippingstone in the west of the city and ends at Bank's Lane in the east, and is a significant part of the redevelopment programme.

PREVIOUS DESIGN TEAM APPOINTMENTS

Following an extensive tender process, a design team led by Northern Ireland based WH Stephens was appointed in May 2024 to manage, design and deliver the Ballyholme Yacht Club Water Sports Centre project and associated consultation process. Work began on the design, stakeholder engagement and consultation strategy and continues with the Club's Development Committee working closely with the consultants. The planning application is scheduled for submission in Spring 2026, with a contractor expected to be appointed in 2027 ahead of construction, which is forecast to be completed by the end if 2028. Initial concept designs were presented to BYC members and the public in October 2025.

In September 2024, Council Members approved the appointment of Belfast based McAdam to manage, design and deliver the redevelopment of Bangor's iconic, family-favourite, Pickie Fun Park. The collaborative partnership between Pickie operator Crumlin Road Gaol and McAdam began straight away and has resulted in concept designs being developed and presented to the public for review in September 2025. As the project develops, we will continue to engage with local stakeholders, including residents who live in close proximity to the Park, to ensure that all views are considered in the lead-up to the formal planning submission, scheduled for early 2026. This will include additional opportunities for public input during the Pre-Application Community Consultation process and beyond.

BACKGROUND

The Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment is just one of a number of exciting tourism-led regeneration schemes that was eligible to receive funding from the Belfast Region City Deal (Belfast Region City Deal). Council was awarded £40 million for the 10-year development via a bespoke package of funding from the Department of Communities, with an additional £20 million secured from Council and a further investment of £12.8 million being sought from private investment.

Council is now progressing ambitious plans to redevelop a 2-mile stretch of the Bangor seafront over the next 10 years, to help re-establish Bangor as a thriving city and prime visitor attraction in Northern Ireland.

Work has been taking place on the necessary stages required to develop each of the individual projects that make up the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment. Each project requires its own Integrated Consultancy Team (ICT design team) to be appointed to design, manage and deliver each project. This involves a series of individual and bespoke procurement processes. :

• The development of a Pre-Qualifying Questionnaire (PQQ) to allow interested companies to formally demonstrate if they have the necessary experience, skills etc. to deliver the required scope of works.

• The development of an Invitation to Tender package (ITT).

• Both sets of documents require approval from Construction and Procurement Delivery (CPD) within the Department of Finance before they can be issued and this must be undertaken for each of the projects.

• Each stage is evaluated and then a report is brought to Council recommending the appointment of the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT).

Find out more about the plans for the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment in this video presentation.

BACKGROUND

The vision (Bangor Vision Identity Framework (PDF) is to seamlessly connect the waterfront to the rest of the city and, in so doing, provide a unique range of opportunities for residents and visitors to have their lives and businesses enriched by a mix of public spaces, creative events, activities, attractions and experiences that speak of local stories to a global audience.  

In August 2019 the Council appointed a consultant to lead on the delivery of this project and to deliver on this vision.  Working with the Council, the consultant undertook a significant amount of work to really understand the qualities that make Bangor special and local people's hopes for the future of the waterfront. You can read the results of their findings here Survey results 2019 (PDF)

View the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment Digital Brochure (adobe.com)

The programme comprises the following projects parts starting at Skippingstone to the west of the city, finishing at Bank's Lane in the east. 

KEEPING YOU INFORMED

One of the key objectives of the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment programme, is to keep the public, businesses and stakeholders informed and involved. Following the award of the Contract for Funding in January 2023, the Bangor Waterfront Team hosted 6 Public Information sessions presenting the programme in detail and explaining the timeline for the 10-year Redevelopment.

These sessions also addressed questions and the myths that inevitably circulate. Additional sessions were also held with Bangor Marina & Harbour Users, Bangor City Advisory Group, Students at SERC Bangor, Members of the Sports Forum and Members of the Northern Community Leisure Trust.

These sessions are just the beginning of a long process of communications and engagement to be rolled out over the next few years which will involve all Bangor residents, businesses, stakeholders and the wider Borough. More sessions will be scheduled as the project progresses and there are updates to be shared. In the meantime, the Bangor Waterfront Team are happy to answer any questions which can be submitted by email to: bangorwaterfront@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

OTHER NEWS

Ards and North Down Borough Council, along with our Belfast Region City Deal partners, welcomed clarification on Monday 16 September 2024 from the Department of Finance, following communication between the NI Secretary of State and HM Treasury in relation to the continued commitment to the Belfast Region City Deal, signed in December 2021.

We welcome the statement from the Finance Minister to the Northern Ireland Assembly, delivered on Monday as outlined:

"The Secretary of State is happy to confirm that following communication with HMT nothing has changed on the status of the Belfast Region City Deal, which was signed back in December 2021 and continues to make great progress."

Belfast Region City Deal partners also welcome the positive news that the Derry City and Strabane District Council City Deal will be signed on Wednesday 18 September, and wish to state their very clear support for colleagues in the Mid-South West Growth Deal and the Causeway Coast & Glens Growth Deal. We urge the UK Government to lift the pause on commitments relating to those Deals. Together, the four deals offer significant growth potential for Northern Ireland as a whole.

The Belfast Region City Deal - the result of a strong and established partnership - is now well into delivery phase with:

- 15 Outline Business Cases approved, including the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment

- 12 legally executed Contracts for Funding signed, including the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment, totalling approx £600m

- 15 ICT contracts awarded including 2 for Bangor Waterfront

- two projects in construction

- a number of projects already in operation.

Having signed the £40 million BRCD Contract for Funding in January 2023, work continues apace on the exciting Bangor Waterfront Regeneration plans which will transform the long-term economic growth of our city, as well as enhancing the quality of life for the people who live, work, study, do business, and invest here, now and in the years to come.