News Release Page Title

8 June 2000

NIGEL DODDS MEETS DEVELOPERS ON CITY CENTRE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS

The Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds, MLA will today meet the four developers interested in building Belfast's next major City Centre Shopping Development. The meetings are the final stage of the process to determine which proposal receives the support of the Department for Social Development.

Commenting on the meetings Mr Dodds said: "Each of the proposals represents an investment of between £100- £200 million and are an indication of the high level of confidence in the future of Belfast. If Belfast is to be a 21st Century City it must have the retail facilities to ensure that it can compete at an international level. I will listen with interest to the views of the four developers and will make my decision on the basis of the proposal which will have the greatest overall regeneration benefit for the city."

Concluding the Minister said: "I am conscious of the importance of my decision and the impact it will have on the future of Belfast. My Department is now coming to the end of the decision making process and I hope that I will shortly be able to announce which location the Department for Social Development will be supporting as its preferred location for Belfast City Centre's new major shopping centre."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. Four development consortia have each been working up proposals to provide a major new retail-based development on 4 different sites within Belfast City Centre. The developers and their proposed locations are as follows:-

MEPC/John Laing Property

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an extension of CastleCourt towards Upper North Street

Dunloe Ewart

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a scheme extending from Royal Avenue to Donegall Street

Land Securities/Deramore Developments

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a scheme in the Fountain Street, College Street, Queen Street, Castle Street area

 

Multi Development Corporation

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a scheme centred on Victoria Square
  1. Each of the developers had approached the Department because of the anticipated need for some help in assembling sites and securing the extinguishment of certain roads within the sites. The Department for Social Development is the Department with the appropriate compulsory purchase and related road closure powers.