PROPOSALS CONTEXT

The architect’s impression of how the inside of the Fort could look.

Belfast Region City Deal

The proposals for Hillsborough Courthouse, Fort and Dark Walk form part of the Belfast Region City Deal, a major long‑term investment programme agreed in 2021. The City Deal represents a partnership between the UK Government, Northern Ireland Executive, local councils and regional partners, delivering around £1 billion of co‑investment across the region over 10 to 15 years.

The City Deal is designed to support inclusive economic growth, creating new jobs, strengthening tourism and enhancing infrastructure. It is structured around four key pillars:

  • Tourism and Regeneration

  • Innovation and Digital

  • Infrastructure

  • Employability and Skills

Destination Royal Hillsborough

Destination Royal Hillsborough is one of the flagship tourism and regeneration projects within the City Deal. With a total investment of approximately £26 million, it aims to establish Royal Hillsborough as a leading heritage destination within Northern Ireland.

It seeks to improve how people interact with the village by better connecting key sites and enhancing the overall visitor experience. This includes strengthening links between Hillsborough Castle, the Courthouse, the Fort, Dark Walk, the forest and the connecting public realm.

A central aim is to encourage visitors to stay longer and engage with more of what Royal Hillsborough has to offer, while also ensuring that improvements benefit residents through enhanced accessibility, infrastructure and public spaces. The Courthouse, Fort and Dark Walk projects are key components of this vision, bringing two historically significant sites into more active use and ensuring they are accessible to residents and visitors.

Delivery Partners

Delivery of the programme is being led by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces. LCCC acts as the project sponsor and local authority partner, responsible for progressing the wider regeneration programme, including public realm works and infrastructure improvements.

Historic Royal Palaces, as the custodian of Hillsborough Castle, the Courthouse and the Fort, brings specialist expertise in the conservation, interpretation and management of nationally important heritage sites.

Together, these organisations are working collaboratively to ensure that the proposals for the Courthouse and Fort are delivered in a way that balances heritage protection, public access and long‑term sustainability..