A visionary regeneration plan that could transform West Belfast into a bustling hub for tourism and business was unveiled last week.

The West Belfast and Greater Shankill Enterprise Council (WBGSEC) revealed their vision for the future for the area which includes a tourism and education centre on the Black Mountain, a hotel and museum on the Shankill Road and the redevelopment of Andersonstown as a modern ‘urban village’.

A total of seven projects were outlined in the planning document, entitled ‘Think Transformation’, which could transform the economy of greater West Belfast and catapult the area to a place as a major player in the city’s regeneration.

The WBGSEC is made up of 14 members drawn from both sides of the community in West Belfast and the Greater Shankill. 

Keen to release the economic potential of West Belfast, the Enterprise Council commissioned a group of architects to develop the Think Transformation master plan.

The Council Chairman, Padraic White, said now that Stormont is back up and running the elected politicians need to look at how the area can be developed.

“Now that the Northern Ireland Executive is back in action, the Enterprise Council looks to local ministers who understand the needs of local people to make decisions on a coherent regeneration strategy for the area over the next 12 months, taking account of the various proposals now on the table,” said Mr White.

Three of the signature projects in the master plan tap into the potential of the Belfast Hills which dominate the West Belfast skyline. 

The first proposal is to build a visitor centre and viewing platform at the peak of Black Mountain; the next is to develop a tourism site at Fernhill House on the Shankill Road which would include a hotel, cultural centre and museum; the third  is for an enterprise hub for knowledge-based industries to attract business to the area and which will also include existing enterprise areas including the former Mackies site, Ballygomartin Industrial Estate and the Whiterock Industrial Estate.

A public square and business centre to cater for Irish language projects could be built on the Fall Road to copperfasten its place as the city’s Gaeltacht Quarter, and Andersonstown could be in line for a major facelift to turn the area into an urban village.

A further project puts forward the concept of an economic hub based on the Andersonstown gateway which is currently being considered by the Department for Social Development (DSD), and the final project supports the future use of historic church buildings in the Shankill area.

The Council’s Vice Chairman, Dr Mark Brotherston, said the newly unveiled rapid transport system which will link the top of the Springfield Road with the Europa Hotel will play an integral role in the plans.

“Transport access to and from the West Belfast and Greater Shankill area is crucial to achieving regeneration objectives so the rapid transit system proposed by the Department for Regional Development is essential to the proposals in the master plan,” he said.

West Belfast MP Gerry Adams added: “The Enterprise Council has brought forward an imaginative and innovative report which provides a positive vision of West Belfast for the future. The next step must be in developing a delivery mechanism which can turn these ideas into realistic projects. This will require practical support from the Executive and government departments.”

Project one: The Black Mountain, Destination Centre

Black Mountain and Divis could house an iconic visitor facility which will be visible from across the entire city.

Thousands of visitors every year could be drawn to the Black Mountain Destination Centre centre which will provide a viewing platform to see across the city, restaurants and a hotel as well as an outdoor pursuits centre. The architects of the plans have come up with innovative ‘Giant’s Steps’ buildings which will form the main body of the centre and step up the side of the mountain. 

As well as the tourism angle, the centre will also have educational purposes as well as offices for the National Trust, the Belfast Hills Partnership and other conservation organisations.