In a supportive response to a public consultation on regeneration proposals for Belfast City Centre, RSUA has encouraged developer Castlebrooke Investments to consider delivering the North Street/Donegall Street scheme through a series of phased planning applications, rather than the single application currently proposed.
We suggest this approach could provide greater flexibility in delivering the scheme and allow individual elements to progress or be transferred should circumstances change.
Scope of the proposals
The consultation sets out a masterplan for a mixed‑use neighbourhood. The key elements include:
- Up to 1,000 homes, covering social and affordable housing, homes for sale, homes for rent and co‑living accommodation.
- Two hotels, one on Royal Avenue and one near Writers’ Square.
- Around 100,000 sq ft of commercial and community space, including shops, cafés, restaurants and flexible uses.
- New pedestrian routes and lanes, improving movement through the area and linking to surrounding streets.
- A new public square opening onto both Royal Avenue and North Street.
- A concept for changes to Writers’ Square, including more greenery, seating and active ground‑floor uses.
- Restoration of five listed buildings, including the Masonic Hall, Avenue Hall, 12–14 Garfield Street, 41–51 Royal Avenue and the North Street Arcade entrances.
A planning application is expected to be submitted in October 2026, with construction anticipated to begin in winter 2027, subject to approval.
RSUA response
While we did not comment on every aspect of the proposals, our specific points included:
- Support for the principle of bringing more homes to Belfast City Centre, while noting that additional amenities will be needed to support the new residents.
- Recognition of the merit in the scheme’s healthy density and its potential to enable more everyday journeys by walking, cycling and wheeling, while reducing car dependency.
- A request for the developer to carefully consider the proposed 17-storey build-to-rent tower beside St Anne’s Cathedral, including a thorough assessment of its scale and massing.
- Given the likely multi-year delivery period, a recommendation to explore meanwhile uses in existing buildings and spaces to help reinvigorate the area in the short term and potentially establish occupants that could form part of the permanent mix.
- A request for greater detail on how the five listed buildings covered by the scheme will be brought back into active use.
More information
RSUA’s full response can be accessed here.
If you have any questions or comments about our response, please contact Curtis Large, RSUA Policy and Public Affairs Officer, at curtis@rsua.org.uk
