Award

Main Contractor for Cathedral Gardens (& Blitz Memorial)

BELFAST CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

25 Sep 2025 at 10:29

Tender

29 Aug 2025 at 13:25

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the redevelopment of Cathedral Gardens in Belfast, a project titled "Main Contractor for Cathedral Gardens (& Blitz Memorial)," has reached the award stage. Belfast City Council, acting as the buyer, spearheaded this initiative to revamp a strategically significant public space in Belfast City Centre. The contract, worth £3,259,921.54, was awarded to John McQuillan (Contracts) Ltd, an SME based in Lisburn, County Antrim. This extensive project aims to transform the area into an innovative, multifunctional public realm, with work scheduled to begin on 7th October 2025 and concluding on 9th October 2026. The procurement was conducted through an open competitive flexible procedure under Northern Irish devolved regulations, with the entire process revolving around a single lot completed successfully.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in construction and civil engineering, particularly those specialising in public realm and environmental improvement schemes. Companies proficient in landscaping, demolition, lighting installation, and urban development can benefit from this project. The scale and ambition of the Cathedral Gardens redevelopment provide avenues for SMEs and larger enterprises to showcase their expertise and innovate in the public infrastructure sector. Engaging with such projects can help businesses establish a robust presence in government procurement, expand their portfolios, and foster future collaborations with public authorities like Belfast City Council.

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Notice Title

Main Contractor for Cathedral Gardens (& Blitz Memorial)

Notice Description

Cathedral Gardens is a strategically important public open space in the heart of Belfast City Centre. With the recent development of Ulster University, Cathedral Gardens is now part of an exciting, rapidly developing area of Belfast City Centre. St Anne's Cathedral, a listed building, lies south of the site across Academy Street. The existing site is a predominantly hard aging, civic space comprising the following: established trees and raised garden beds; seating integrated into low concrete retaining walls; and open paved surfaces of varied materials which have been repaired and altered over time. The project is for the provision of the redevelopment of the existing Cathedral Gardens area of Belfast. The project is a public realm environmental improvement scheme and aims to provide Belfast City Centre with an innovative, multifunctional, and digitally driven vision for Cathedral Gardens. Cathedral Gardens is a key area of public open space located next to Ulster University, Writer's Square, and St Anne's Cathedral. Redevelopment of the site will include but is not limited to; * Site clearance; * Demolition including the breakout and removal of concrete; * Decommissioning and infill of existing underground tank and plantroom; * Isolation and disconnection of NIE metered supply, lighting columns; * Tree protection and felling works; * Site preparation works, adjusting existing levels to formation level; * Soil remediation including capping works to soft landscaped areas and testing of incoming material to soft landscaped areas; * Validation and verification of land remedial works; * Ground investigation works; * Hard and soft landscaping including drainage, ducting, paving, porous asphalt, kerbing, edging, planters, pre-cast concrete, planting shrubbery, trees and pleached trees complete with watering and aeration system, rootball cradles, grass turfing, street furniture, decorative boulders, and boundary treatment works; * Retaining walls; * SuDs tree pits and rain garden; * Foundations; * An interactive lighting experience including associated controls, remote and wireless connectivity, data cabling, network links, lighting control strategy including third party control, licences, commissioning, training, operation manual and after-care. Lighting in the form of catenary lighting on feature columns, including a canopy covered interactive digital play zone and projector provision for digital art displays; * CCTV system including fold down CCTV camera towers; * Ducting, cable chambers, feeder pillars including NIE connection, meter and switchgear including testing and commissioning; * Liaising with statutory authorities including NIE, DfI * Flood lighting and feature lighting including slip rated ground recessed lighting, bollard lighting, up-light and down-light fittings; * A public plaza capable of accommodating small to modestly sized events with pop-up electrical services for vendors to connect to; * An urban forest / woodland garden area to function as a quiet place and to promote wildlife; * A lawn area next to the university to soften this urban environment and complement university cafe culture; * A Blitz memorial to commemorate this WWII tragedy; and * Retention of Rinty Monaghan statue.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05908a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059585-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work


CPV Codes

45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£5,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£3,257,921 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
23 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
23 Sep 20255 months ago
Contract Period
6 Oct 2025 - 9 Oct 2026 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BELFAST CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
pmu@belfastcity.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT2 8DJ
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

JOHN MCQUILLAN (CONTRACTS

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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