Back to the Future: Could Belfast’s DeLorean Test Track Become a Linear Park?

Whenever I visit a new city, I usually spend a fair bit of time scrolling through Instagram and doing countless web searches to find interesting things to see and do while I’m there. I’ll also have a look at Atlas Obscura, which is great for finding unusual places that don’t always feature in the usual tourist guides. I was looking at Belfast recently and noticed a couple of surprising omissions. One was the Second World War pillbox hidden inside The Oval, home of Glentoran. The other was the old DeLorean test track in Dunmurry, which is still there more than 40 years after the factory closed.

This year marked the 45th anniversary of the DeLorean DMC-12, one of the most recognisable cars ever made, thanks in no small part to Back to the Future. More than 100 DeLoreans gathered at Stormont for the anniversary celebrations, with owners travelling from across Europe. While the Fleadh understandably grabbed most of the headlines this year, the DeLorean anniversary was another reminder of just how remarkable it is that Belfast has done so little with this part of its history. Every year that passes is another year that the former test track sits unused, despite the worldwide recognition of the car that was once tested there.

And given some of the recent political developments in Northern Ireland, you could be forgiven for thinking we’d travelled back in time ourselves. Some of the arguments and tensions feel all too familiar. But rather than going backwards, perhaps we should be thinking about what we could do with this piece of Belfast’s history.

From Test Track to Linear Park

I’ve often wondered why nobody has seriously explored turning the former DeLorean test track into a public park. Looking at a map, there’s the possibility of something much bigger: a linear park connecting the River Lagan, Derriaghy Linear Park, the former DeLorean test track and Brook Leisure Centre. It could create a green route through this part of Belfast, giving people somewhere to walk, run or cycle while making use of a piece of industrial heritage that has been largely forgotten.

The original test track could be retained as a walking and cycling circuit, with information boards explaining the history of the factory, the people who worked there and the extraordinary story of John DeLorean. There could be some public art, seating and perhaps an annual gathering of DeLorean owners. It wouldn’t necessarily need an expensive visitor centre or a major tourism development. Just an interesting public space that makes use of something already there, while giving visitors another reason to explore beyond Belfast city centre.

Of course, there would be practical questions around land ownership, access and how the different green spaces could be connected. The route would need to be properly explored rather than simply drawing a line on a map, but the idea of linking existing green spaces with a former industrial site seems worth investigating.

Making More of Belfast’s History

The Fleadh demonstrated this year just how successful Belfast can be when it embraces its culture, welcomes visitors and makes use of its historical plots. But there’s much more to the city than the usual tourist attractions. Despite the DeLorean being recognised around the world, one of the few visible reminders of its Belfast connection is a mural in Sailortown. It seems remarkable that there’s so little to see in the city where the car was actually built.

The former test track could help change that, celebrating a small part of Belfast’s industrial history while giving local communities a new public space. A linear park could improve walking and cycling connections while encouraging visitors to explore beyond the city centre.

With the DeLorean’s 50th anniversary approaching in 2031, there’s an opportunity to do something with the site rather than leave it sitting unused for another five years. The DeLorean was built to take us back to the future. Perhaps it’s time Belfast did the same with its test track.