Geologically, Northern Ireland is extremely diverse. Studies show approximately 300 different soil types with an estimated 11,000 sites with potential contamination. Where contamination occurs petroleum hydrocarbons and polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons are the cause. Heavy metals are present too. Arsenic, lead and nickel are the most apparent.
This is no surprise if you consider Northern Irelands industrial heritage-ship building yards, textile mills,chemical plants and foundries. Furthermore, with the lack of a natural gas pipeline kerosene fuel storage is dominant throughout the area.
One of the largest sites with land contamination is the TItanic Quarter in the heart of Belfast.
Titanic Quarter is an urban mixed-use regeneration of a 75ha site in central Belfast, Northern Ireland. Formerly the Harland & Wolff shipyard, this massive project is described in detail at www.titanic-quarter.com
The €1.5bn development has been identified as one of a handful of world-class sites designated as ‘New Century Cities’. In its initial phases Titanic Quarter will include-
• Up to 5,000 residential units
• A Financial Services Centre with first occupant the banking organisation Citi Group
•A new integrated campus facility for Belfast Metropolitan College
• Several major new and historic tourist attractions, hotels and public spaces,
• The new HQ for the NI Public Records Office
• A world-class Creative Media campus clustered around the ‘Paint Hall’ studio complex.