Construction has officially begun on the £5 million regeneration of Cathedral Gardens, a project designed to create a premier urban destination between Ulster University and St Anne's Cathedral. Belfast City Council's vision for the site includes a versatile events area, a nature-inspired playground, and a digital interactive play zone for children.

The redeveloped space will incorporate cutting-edge technology, including programmable lighting to alter the atmosphere of the gardens and a projection system designed to display imagery onto the neighbouring Ulster University walls. Sustainability is a core component of the design; a bespoke rainwater harvesting system will collect and store water to maintain the gardens' new lawn, mature trees, and various shrubs.

A significant feature of the new gardens will be a dedicated memorial to the victims of the Belfast Blitz, providing a place of reflection in an area of the city that was heavily affected by the Second World War air raids.

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tracy Kelly, welcomed the start of the works: "The Cathedral Gardens regeneration project is both ambitious and innovative. Our aim to create a world class urban space where families, students, workers and visitors can meet, relax and be entertained all year round, both night and day.

"We also want the space to become an events and cultural hub, helping reinvigorate this part of the city centre which is undergoing a transformation. We look forward to it hosting numerous small and large-scale events ranging from Culture Night, music concerts and children's festivals, to food markets and much more besides, helping to support and boost the city's annual cultural programme. "This area was badly impacted by air raids during World War 2, so Cathedral Gardens will be a fitting home to a new Belfast Blitz Memorial – a space where people can pause, reflect and honour those who lost their lives."

The project is part of a wider investment strategy by the council to revitalise the city centre. Other notable initiatives include the 'Belfast Stories' attraction due in 2030, the acquisition of the Assembly Rooms, and a £280m residential-led partnership with GRAHAM.

Councillor Kelly added:

"In the last few years the council has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring our city centre continues to thrive and grow. Belfast Stories, a stunning new public space, visitor attraction and creative hub for the city will open on Royal Avenue in 2030. We recently purchased the historic Assembly Rooms in Cathedral Quarter, and work is now underway to carefully consider options for its future use.

"We also want to increase the number of people living in the city centre as part of long-term strategic plans, so our partnership with GRAHAM to deliver £280m worth of residential-led, mixed use city centre developments will play its part in achieving that.

"This cluster of council-led development, along with the stunning new Ulster University campus, major student housing schemes and other investment in the vicinity, will truly revitalise this area of the city centre.

"Our successful Vacant to Vibrant initiative has also seen 48 grants awarded since 2022 to help restore vacant city centre properties. So we are delivering a broad range of initiatives to make the city centre the very best it can be."

The new Cathedral Gardens is scheduled to open to the public in spring 2027.