Northern Ireland's Department for Social Development has announced commissions for comprehensive regeneration at the Carrick Hill/North Street/Peter's Hill/Millfield site and to design and prepare a planning application for a new public square and streetscape at the Little Donegall Street and Library Street junction on the northside of Belfast city centre.
There will also be a promotional campaign for developers to declare an interest in regeneration opportunities for vacant sites in the area.
"The promotional campaign and design schemes are my Department's initial steps towards attracting private investment into a part of the city centre that has been neglected and was badly hit during the troubles," said social development minister Alex Atwood.
"The area holds the potential to benefit from the sort of investment we have seen in the Cathedral Quarter, Royal Exchange and the York Street campus of the University of Ulster. I invite the property development and investment sector to come forward with proposals which respond to my Department's ‘Northside Urban Village' scheme. This aims to develop the area and provide commercial, housing and educational uses to revitalise the north side of the city centre. I am determined that Belfast is not left behind when the upturn in the property market arrives. We must maintain our competitive position alongside other European cities by planning for future growth during this difficult time. My Department will consult with all key stakeholders and community representatives in the Northside to take on board their views as we roll-out these three initiatives."
