Great Place North Belfast, a 3 year North Belfast Heritage Cluster project focusing on a range of built heritage assets along a one mile stretch from Donegall Street to Crumlin Rd as part of a regeneration led cultural plan has officially started. The project is supported by National Lottery funding via the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Great Place Scheme and additional support from Belfast Charitable Society.   Pictured at an event to mark the start of the project  at Clifton House, one of the project’s built heritage assets were, from left, Pleasuance Perry from cluster member Society of Friends, Paula Reynolds from Belfast Charitable Society and Angelina Fusco from Heritage Lottery Fund.

Great Place North Belfast, a 3 year North Belfast Heritage Cluster project focusing on a range of built heritage assets along a one mile stretch from Donegall Street to Crumlin Rd as part of a regeneration led cultural plan has officially started. The project is supported by National Lottery funding via the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Great Place Scheme and additional support from Belfast Charitable Society.
Pictured at an event to mark the start of the project at Clifton House, one of the project’s built heritage assets were, from left, Pleasuance Perry from cluster member Society of Friends, Paula Reynolds from Belfast Charitable Society and Angelina Fusco from Heritage Lottery Fund.

North Belfast Heritage Cluster, a network of 15 voluntary organisations responsible for a range of historical assets in the area, is celebrating the start of a 3-year project called Great Place North Belfast.  The project, which received almost £240,000 of National Lottery funding via the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Great Place Scheme and additional support from Belfast Charitable Society, places heritage at the heart of north Belfast’s future prosperity, its sense of place, and the quality of life of its people. 

The Great Place North Belfast project will focus on a one-mile stretch starting from Donegall Street and ending on the Crumlin Rd. Working closely together the sites and associated organisations will reflect the diverse stories and vibrant history of north Belfast to create a heritage-led regeneration plan for the area with the aim to create a more confident sense of place. 

The cluster organisations and assets involved in the Great Place North Belfast project are: 

  • St Anne’s/ St Anne’s Cathedral 
  • Redeemer Central / Donegall Street Congregational Church 
  • Belfast Buildings Trust / St. Patrick’s School & Carlisle Memorial Church 
  • St Patrick’s Church & Parochial House  
  • Quaker Society / Frederick Street Institute  
  • Belfast Charitable Society / Clifton House & Graveyard 
  • Belfast Orange Hall 
  • Indian Community Centre 
  • UniTorah / Annesley Street Synagogue 
  • St. Malachy’s College & The O’Laverty Library 
  • Carnegie Oldpark Library 
  • St. Mary’s Church of Ireland Church & Halls 
  • North Belfast Working Men’s Club 
  • Duncairn Complex – 174 Trust 
  • Dunlewey – Cliftonville Road  

Angelina Fusco, Member of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s NI Committee said:

“Thanks to National Lottery players, we’ve invested £240,000 funding support for Great Place North Belfast. The Great Place Scheme aims to bring together National Lottery investment and local ambition to make a difference and showcase what can be achieved when heritage is placed right at the heart of local plans and activities. We know culture and heritage can be catalysts to stimulate regeneration and growth, and help to address the wider social issues that affect places. We are excited to see what impact this pilot placemaking project is going to have as it  brings together new and existing partnerships to explore fresh ways to utilise the unique heritage of North Belfast. We wish the project team and all the partners well as they embark on this fascinating new project      

Partner funder Belfast Charitable Society and Chair of the North Belfast Heritage Cluster, Paula Reynolds added:

“ North Belfast’s built heritage is of great importance and significance to the story of the development oBelfast City. Through Great Place North Belfast we will support the heritage organisations so that, together we can enhance the authentic character of our local area. We hope to introduce new ideas which will help to create jobs, training opportunities, quality cultural events and a collaborative partnership approach which will inspire and benefit the diverse North Belfast community and beyond.” 

 

Follow the project story of Great Place North Belfast on www.greatplacenorthbelfast.com and on Facebook/GreatPlaceNorthBelfast and Twitter @GreatPlaceB #GreatPlaceNorthBelfast.