A public consultation period has opened on Castlebrooke Investments’ new plans for what was called the TriBeca quarter in Belfast city centre.
What is now called the North Street-Donegall Street Project will, say the developers, revitalise an area around the two historic streets, bordering Royal Avenue and including Writer’s Square.
The proposals comprise around 1,000 new homes- including social and affordable accommodation, two 4-star hotels and up to 100,000 sq. ft of mixed commercial and community space, including shops, restaurants, cafes and services.
An in-person public consultation event is taking place on June 30 and July 1 at the Masonic Hall on Rosemary Street, to allow interested parties to view the emerging plans in full. Key developments outlined in the proposals include:
- A new public square opening on to both Royal Avenue and North Street, surrounded by bars and restaurants, on what is currently a surface car park behind the historic First Presbyterian church and The Masonic Hall.
- The restoration of five listed buildings including The Masonic Hall, the Garfield Bar and the facades of the former North Street Arcade.
- A new street called Long Lane that reinstates a view to Belfast Cathedral from North Street. Leading to Writers’ Square, it will be framed on each side by commercial premises, with homes above and a new 220-bed hotel.
- A proposed new 150-bed boutique hotel in a refurbished listed building on Royal Avenue, opposite Castle Court.
- A new courtyard reflecting the location of the former Brown Linen Hall, Belfast’s original Linen Hall, off Donegall Street, surrounded by homes on all sides, including 60 social and affordable homes.
- The entrances to the former North Street Arcade will be retained and lead to a new courtyard with commercial uses on either side.
- Writers’ Square is envisaged as a greener space, with more seating and bars and restaurants on two sides to bring life and activity. There will be a process involving wide public engagement led by the public sector to agree a precise scheme for the square.
The North Street/Donegall Street scheme aims to create a sense of community, and the proposals include homes for different stages of life and different needs, so people can live in the area long term.
Estimates prepared by Oxford Economics suggest the project has the potential to be worth £195m in Gross Value Added (GVA) during construction with 2,600 jobs supported in this period, 470 permanent full-time jobs created by residential development and commercial development creating 600 jobs, as well as over £10m in visitor spending each year. Once complete, it is estimated that the scheme will support £60m in GVA annually.
Gerry Hughes, who leads the professional team designing the scheme, said: “This is a major opportunity to bring new life back to one of the most historically significant parts of Belfast city centre. Our vision is for a new residential neighbourhood where people are at the heart of the design, a place with new homes, new streets, new public space and new activity.
“Belfast needs more homes, and we believe this is the right place for a new neighbourhood: close to jobs, education, culture, transport, and the life of the city centre. We want to create a place that feels rooted in Belfast, blending heritage with quality, world class design.
“The scheme proposes new and improved routes, allowing easy movement to and through the area, revitalised public squares and vibrant, inclusive spaces for residents and visitors. The plans include restoration of a number of listed buildings, preserving as much of Belfast’s heritage as possible for future generations.”
The proposals have been designed with input from investors, operators and hotel chains that ensures the development is aligned to market expectations.
Feedback on the new proposals will be considered ahead of the submission of a full planning application in the Autumn of 2026. Once planning approval is granted, the first aspect of the development likely to be delivered is the hotel on Royal Avenue in late 2027, with negotiations with potential operators currently underway, with the rest of the scheme being developed over the following four to five years. Details of the scheme and the exhibition can be found at www.northst-donegallst.co.uk