The site, which is currently a surface car park, will offer first-class office space, independent retail and studio spaces for local and international businesses, as well as significant improvements to the public realm.
Central to the vision of the project is encouraging small independent businesses, retailers and makers to reinvigorate the once thriving Smithfield streetscape. The project is expected to create up to 650 construction jobs in the build phase of the project.
The development will comprise four main buildings connected by a central yard, including a large contemporary office space, a smaller high-quality multi-let office building, a stripped-back workspace building suited to media or tech businesses and the retained ‘Butcher’s Building’, which will be repurposed for independent retailers and social enterprises.
Depending on government guidance relating to the coronavirus pandemic, Bywater and Ashmour may begin work on the site in 2021 and are reviewing options to incorporate a temporary low-carbon market building on the site to initiate the place-making ambition.
The developers also intend to be on site before the end of this year at 35-47 Donegall Place, the upper floors of the building above Boots in central Belfast. The current office accommodation on the site will be redeveloped into contemporary office space, with work expected to complete in the second half of 2021.
Patrick O’Gorman from Bywater Properties said: “We are delighted to have received detailed planning permission for our mixed-use scheme in the Smithfield part of the City Centre. At times like these, city centres need to be invested in and we are proud to be doing our part for the long-term future of Belfast as a centre of excellence for innovation and commerce.
“We are particularly excited about being able to provide space for both local and international businesses of all sizes, including local retailers, makers, start-ups, tech companies, design studios and office workers.”
He added: “In the short term we’ll be reviewing how Smithfield Yard can immediately fit into the wider vision for the Inner North West area and how we can use our site for temporary purposes to continue the revitalisation of the area that many local entrepreneurial businesses have already started.”
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