The Titanic Quarter Belfast

• Belfast was once famous for its shipbuilding, and particularly for the construction of the ill-fated Titanic at the Harland and Wolff shipyards at the neck of the River Lagan and Belfast Lough.
• The Titanic Quarter in Belfast, named after the city's most famous product, has become one of Europe's largest waterfront developments.
• Shaped around the marina, it comprises historic maritime landmarks, including the huge yellow lifting cranes that are on an iconic symbol of Belfast's industrial heritage, luxury shops, post modern workspace architecture and a University campus.
• Belfast Harbour continues to operate as a private company providing the logistical framework for the successful trade will be it on a significantly smaller scale than in the past.
• Right at the head of the old slipway where the Titanic was built, is the Titanic Belfast Visitor Centre.
• This spectacular architecture is shaped like the bow of a ship and the materials reflect water and ice crystals.
• The old White Star Line logo has been incorporated into the design.
• The centre welcomed a million visitors in its first year of opening, 70% of them came from outside Northern Ireland, and who principally came to visit the Titanic Quarter.
• The project won the top prize in the UK regeneration and Renewal Awards in 2012.
• In 2015, Deloitte's were commissioned to evaluate the success of the project that concluded that £105 million of additional tourism had resulted, sustaining 893 additional jobs in the Belfast economy.
• Demand for flats in the area now outstrips supply.
• Land of the Giants, an outdoor arts venue, is now based in the area as well as the annual BBC Proms in the park.
• New water based leisure activities have also began.
• Belfast itself has suffered from sociopolitical unrest since the 1960s. Although this has ended formally in 1998, the troubles have continued to limit investment from outside.
• In a desire for sustainability, the city is looking for the postindustrial world with a range of re branding strategies.
• • A £4.9 million project to transform the former Harland and Wolff headquarters into a four star hotel shows a continuing demand for regeneration in the Titanic Quarter.
• • The two Harland and Wolff gantry cranes are still in use as the old dry docks are now used to construct offshore wind turbines.
• • The older 'Paint Halls' have found use as a film studio, the most high profile of which has been the filming of Game of Thrones.
• • The Short Brothers Factory, now owned by Bombardier, continued to build wings for aircraft on the site of Belfast City Airport. Itself redeveloped and linked more closely with Belfast City Centre.
• A number of companies have started to invest in the area, notably Audi, Premier Inn and the Public Records Office for Northern Ireland.
• The Northern Ireland Science Park nearby has begun to grow again with Citi and Intel investing in the IT and software industry and this is helping to raise aspirations for young people in east Belfast, enrolling in Belfast Metropolitan College.