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Mark SimpsonCommunity correspondent, BBC News NI
BBC
Bruce Springsteen rocked the Boucher Road Playing Fields in 2024
A decision on the future of Belfast's largest outdoor music venue has been put on hold.
Plans to redevelop Boucher Road Playing Fields and return the land to full sporting use failed to win enough support at a meeting of Belfast City Council.
Instead, councillors voted 30-28 to defer a decision on the issue.
Boucher Road Playing Fields has room for up to 40,000 people and has hosted gigs by Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran, Snow Patrol and Irish rap group Kneecap.
A council committee had recommended it become a sporting hub which would include two GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) pitches and a football pitch.
Sinn Féin and the SDLP (Social Democratic and Labour Party) had wanted to press ahead with the proposed redevelopment of the site.
An alternative proposal was supported by a majority of parties including the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party), Alliance Party and the Green Party.
The meeting is ongoing and further discussion on the pitches issue may take place.
Potential alternative sites requested
The council agreed to defer any final decisions regarding the future of the Boucher Road site.
It also requested the preparation of detailed reports addressing the following:
- An assessment of how the Boucher Road site could be reconfigured to support enhanced sports provision alongside a major events venue with a capacity of up to 40,000.
- An evaluation of potential alternative sites across the city suitable for development as a major events space.
- A comprehensive analysis of the economic impact of Boucher Road operating as an events venue, including benefits to local businesses, tourism, and employment.
- Council works with promoters and partners such as Eventsec, MCD, and Shine, to look at options of creating a hybrid site which provides sporting facilities and large scale events with a capacity of 40,000.
The council reaffirmed its commitment to "music, arts, and culture as central to Belfast's future".
It also requested a report outlining current support for the music industry from community-based venues to larger initiatives.
Irish rap trio Kneecap performed at the Belfast venue last August
After voting to put the Boucher Playing Fields decision on hold, councillors then agreed, by a majority, to revisit the council's overall pitches strategy.
A council spokesperson said: "Elected members agreed to refer any decision regarding the council's pitches programme back to its Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for further discussion.
"This includes a decision on the future use of Boucher Road Playing Fields, with agreement by elected members to bring back a specific report on this particular location."
During an hour-long debate on the issue, Sinn Féin councillor Ciaran Beattie claimed there was "discrimination" against the GAA over provision of pitches.
He said there need to be "equality" in the city when it came to the issue.
Concerns have been raised within the music industry in Belfast about the future of the site.
Aiken Promotions described the possible end to large-scale events at the venue as "disappointing" and said it highlighted the need to find an alternative location.
John Cameron, who provides catering equipment for events, said he is "deeply concerned" his business could be impacted if gigs were no longer staged there.
"My concern and fear is that it is too little, too late and the venue could be turned into some sort of political game now," he said.
If any plan to redevelop the site is eventually approved, the council-owned land will not be redeveloped immediately.
Scheduled concerts in 2026 and 2027 will go ahead.
