8 March 2006
UPDATE ON AMBITIOUS DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR BELFAST
The Department for Social Development (DSD) is appraising proposals for two major retail-led regeneration schemes for the Castlecourt and Royal Avenue areas of Belfast City Centre.
Following the issuing of Development Briefs for the North East and North West Quarters in September 2005, DSD has received responses from developers William Ewart Properties Ltd and their development partners, and Westfield Shoppingtowns Ltd.
The North East Quarter proposal seeks to develop a retail-led mixed use regeneration scheme - to include premium brand shopping, City Centre living and complementary amenities.
The concept is based on the development of a new department store alongside two further anchor stores, new retail units targeted at high quality tenants and complimentary restaurants, bars, cafes, 200 apartments and offices (at upper levels). A hotel is located between Lower North Street and Church Street and has frontages onto Lower North Street, Church Street and Writers Square.
A 700 space, two level basement level car park is located between Lower North Street and Donegall Street and provides a service area for the hotel, department store and other retail units. The car park is accessed and exited from Lower North Street. Cultural accommodation is proposed within the former Northern Bank building, which will incorporate a small theatre, studios, community art/gallery with a small amount of speciality retail.
The total floor area of the scheme is 792,271 sq ft (73,604 sq m) which includes 417,611 sq ft (38,796 sq m) of retail. Ewart's envisage the scheme opening by 2011 subject to approval and selection by DSD, obtaining planning permission and meeting all other statutory requirements. Ewart's estimate that the scheme will provide 1,000 jobs during construction and 2,000 jobs in retail and leisure when completed.
The North West Quarter proposal seeks to develop a retail-led mixed use regeneration scheme - to include mid to upper market shopping, City Centre living and complementary amenities.
The concept is based on an extension to Castlecourt north from the rear of the existing centre with a new anchor store at the north western corner on Millfield/Upper North Street.
There would be a new north/south public route continuing the existing Chapel Lane entrance to Castlecourt with market units/kiosks located either side of this new street. A public square surrounded by mixed use development is located to the north of the new street adjoining Upper North Street. The scheme would include 200 residential apartments.
To the south of Castlecourt there would be improvements to the public realm, including market stalls around Bank Square. Reconfiguration of servicing arrangements would enable improvements to the Berry street link. The Castlecourt car park would be extended with a further 1,400 to 1,500 spaces accessed from the existing points and additional accesses off Millfield and North Street.
The total floor area of the scheme excluding residential is 823,155 sq ft (76,473 sq m) which includes 454,671 sq ft (42,240 sq m) new retail. Westfield envisages the scheme opening by 2012 subject to approval and selection by DSD, obtaining planning permission and meeting all other statutory requirements. Westfield estimates that the scheme will provide 1,250 jobs during construction and 3,000 jobs in retail and leisure when completed.
Social Development Minister David Hanson MP said: "The regeneration of Belfast City Centre is a key objective of my Department. It is currently appraising both proposals to assess whether they meet the criteria set out in the Regeneration Masterplans and the Development Briefs. We aim to have this work completed as soon as possible. I will make a further statement later this month on the outcome of the appraisals.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. In Autumn 2004 following appraisal of development proposals for the North East Quarter DSD announced that William Ewart Properties would be given first opportunity to respond to the future development brief for the Area.
2. In February 2005 DSD put forward for public consultation the proposal that Westfield Shoppingtowns Ltd, owners of Castlecourt, should be given first opportunity to respond to the future development brief for the North West Quarter. Following public consultation DSD confirmed in August 2005 that Westfield would be given first opportunity to respond to the future development brief for the Area.
3. DSD issued Development Briefs to Ewarts and Westfield in September 2005 with the stipulation that they respond with proposals within three months of receiving the briefs. Ewarts and Westfield have now brought forward detailed proposals for regeneration projects for the respective Areas.
4. Full details of the Ewarts and Westfield proposals are confidential due to the market and commercial information contained in the documents.
5. In the event that Ewarts or Westfield fail to respond adequately or appropriately to the Development Briefs for the respective Quarters, DSD reserves its right to engage in discussions with other parties who have expressed a desire to take forward this opportunity.
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