Construction has finally begun on the long-awaited Shankill Gateway public realm scheme, marking the start of a £3.18 million project to transform the appearance and accessibility of one of Belfast’s key arterial routes. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced the commencement of works on 25 March 2026, confirming that the 12-month project will upgrade streetscapes along the Lower Shankill Road from the Peter’s Hill junction to Agnes Street.
The scheme represents the first phase of a broader vision to improve the Shankill Road corridor, though questions remain about how this investment connects to wider regeneration plans for the area and why the project has taken nearly nine years to move from initial consultation to construction.
What the scheme delivers
The works cover the stretch from the Peter’s Hill/North Street junction to the Agnes Street/Northumberland Street junction. According to the Department for Communities, the project will deliver:
- High-quality natural stone paving and chipped asphalt footways
- Tree planting and soft landscaping
- New street furniture and replacement bins
- Improvements to pedestrian crossing points
- Widening of the carriageway where possible to improve public transport access
- Granite kerbs
The contract has been awarded to McQuillan Contracts Limited, with RPS acting as planning and environment consultants. The Department anticipates the works will take approximately twelve months to complete.
Minister welcomes “long-awaited investment”
Speaking at the announcement, Minister Lyons emphasised the scheme’s potential to reconnect the Shankill community with Belfast city centre:
“I am pleased to announce that construction has now begun on the Shankill Gateway Public Realm Scheme. This long‑awaited investment marks a significant milestone for the Shankill Road, enhancing its role as a vibrant, welcoming and well‑connected corridor, improving quality of life for residents, and strengthening the local economy.
“My department’s investment will enhance the appearance and character of the area, boost local businesses, encourage active travel, and help create a safer, more accessible environment for everyone who lives, works or visits here. When complete, the Shankill Gateway Scheme will deliver a modern, high‑quality public realm that supports economic growth and reinforces the strong community identity that defines the Shankill Road.”
Nine years in the making
The announcement follows a protracted journey that highlights the complexities of delivering infrastructure projects in Belfast. The Department first consulted on draft proposals for the Shankill Road public realm in September 2017, with exhibition displays at the Shankill Leisure Centre and Spectrum Centre.
Planning permission was granted in July 2020, yet construction has only now begun in 2026. The delay stems partly from disputes regarding the Peter’s Hill/North Street junction design. Screening documents confirm that the scheme originally included alterations to remove unnecessary road infrastructure and improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity. However, Belfast City Council raised concerns in 2020 that the approved design maintained the existing junction layout without addressing severance between the Shankill and the city centre.
According to Assembly records from February 2021, then-Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey acknowledged that the Department for Infrastructure did not accept proposals for the junction redesign and preferred to keep the existing layout, with potential improvements deferred to future works. This compromise allowed the public realm scheme to proceed, though it potentially misses an opportunity to address long-standing barriers to movement between the Shankill and Belfast city centre.
Broader regeneration context
The Shankill Gateway scheme arrives alongside “Shankill: A Plan to Grow”, a community-led regeneration framework launched in February 2026. That plan, developed by the BUILD (Better Understanding in Local Development) group, identified 82 vacant and derelict sites across the Greater Shankill area—equivalent to 62 football pitches of underused land.
While the £3.18 million Gateway scheme addresses the streetscape itself, it remains unclear how this investment connects to the 64 specific actions outlined in the Plan to Grow, or whether additional funding will be ring-fenced to ensure the broader framework translates into concrete development rather than further consultation exercises.
Questions for consideration
- Why has it taken nearly nine years to commence construction following the initial 2017 consultation, and what guarantees exist that subsequent phases will not face similar delays?
- Will the Peter’s Hill/North Street junction redesign ever be delivered, or has the opportunity to improve active travel connectivity been permanently lost?
- How does this £3.18 million investment relate to the broader “Shankill: A Plan to Grow” framework, and will funding be allocated to address the 82 vacant sites identified by the community?
- Given that this is “Phase 1” ending at Agnes Street, what is the timeline and funding status for extending improvements along the remainder of the Shankill and Woodvale Road?
The Department for Communities has confirmed that construction is now underway, with the project expected to conclude in spring 2027. Residents and businesses along the route should prepare for disruption over the coming twelve months as the works progress.