Plans revealed for Belfast revamp

Ambitious plans to transform a rundown part of Belfast city centre were unveiled today.

The proposed development will see a new pedestrian square and street created in the district linking the main commercial and business centre with the west of the city.

Fountain Square is intended to breathe new life into the area behind the Castlecourt Shopping centre and Donegal Place.

More than 320 new residential units – 20% of which will be designated social housing – are also to be built in the wider south west quarter.

Stormont Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said the proposals represented the latest phase of the masterplan to regenerate the city centre.

The SDLP representative said the first step of the south west project would see £5m (€6.3m) spent redeveloping the nearby Bank Square. Work will then get under way on the new square and street.

“My vision for the Westside is to create a vibrant city centre district that connects west Belfast to the main shopping area and the central business district,” she said.

“The Westside regeneration proposals are innovative, radical and achievable, fully in line with my department’s regeneration policy for Belfast city centre.

“My proposals build on the area’s existing strengths – well-established independent traders, a strong unique historic character and preservation of the historic street pattern.

“I am promoting new sustainable development, sensitive to the area, with active ground-level street frontages and an open network of streets and squares.”