Givan announces multi-million pound investment for Belfast Streets Ahead

Communities Minister, Paul Givan MLA has announced a multi-million pound investment to improve the streetscape from Castle Place to the new Ulster University campus on York Street.

Minister, Paul Givan MLA and Lord Mayor, Alderman Brian Kingston pictured at the launch of Phase 3 of the Belfast Streets Ahead programme, which aims to improve the streetscape from Castle Place to the new Ulster University campus on York Street

A tender process has commenced to appoint a contractor to complete the works which will also extend to some surrounding streets. The public realm scheme which was designed by a team led by McAdam Design, will see the area transformed to include new paving, street furniture, lighting and public artwork.

The Department for Communities (DfC) is contributing over £20million to the scheme which forms Phase 3 of the Belfast: Streets Ahead programme which aims to regenerate the entire city centre in a number of separate delivery stages. Belfast City Council has also agreed to contribute £5million. 

Minister Givan said: “My Department’s Belfast Streets Ahead Programme aims to regenerate the entire city centre in a number of phases. This latest phase will deliver a high quality, sustainable public realm scheme in the north of the city centre that will make a significant contribution to the wider regeneration works in the area.

“These works will make the area more welcoming, vibrant and attractive to further investment and will build on the successful implementation of Belfast Streets Ahead in the heart of the shopping district which has helped transform the city centre. "     

The Minister continued: “My Department, in close co-operation with Belfast City Council, Transport NI, Translink and other public and private sector stakeholders, have been working alongside the Ulster University to develop design proposals for the area. The next stage of the project is the appointment of a contractor to deliver the capital works for Phase 3 and I am pleased to announce that this process is now underway.”

The procurement process has now opened and will close on 01 September with work on the new scheme due to commence on site in Spring/Summer 2017.

Belfast Lord Mayor, Alderman Brian Kingston added: “I am delighted that this investment by Belfast City Council will enhance this part of the city centre – one of a number of projects linked to our regeneration plans across Belfast.

“It is vital that we play our part in promoting the growth of Belfast’s economy by ensuring our city centre is an attractive environment for visitors and locals to visit and do business in.”

Notes to editors: 

1. The Phase 3 project area comprises of Royal Avenue, York Street (to its junction with Frederick Street), Frederick Street, Great Patrick Street (part), York Lane, Academy Street, Curtis Street, Clarkes Lane, Talbot Street, Exchange Street West, Cathedral Gardens (aka Buoys Park) and Library Square (Little Donegall Street and Library Street)
2. The estimated costs is £27million and the works are anticipated to take approximately two years commencing in Spring/Summer 2017 and are due to complete in mid 2019
3. Identification of the preferred option took place following completion of concept designs and a public consultation which ran from 6 October 2014 to 9 January 2015
4. Planning Permission for the scheme was granted by Belfast Planning Service on 17 November 2015
5. Phase 1: The 14 streets covered by the £28million investment in Phase One of the ‘Belfast: Streets Ahead’ programme are: Ann Street, Arthur Place; Arthur Square; Arthur Street; Callender Street; Castle Lane; Castle Place, Castle Street, Cornmarket; College Street; Donegall Place;Fountain Lane, Fountain Street and Queen Street 
6. The Phase 2 area includes Donegall Square North, East and West and was suspended in favour of accelerating Phase 3
7. McAdam Design is one of the largest independent multi-disciplinary consultancy practices working in Northern Ireland. Established in 1963, the practice initially focused on Civil Engineering Projects with Architecture added as a separate discipline in 1975. They have delivered large scale Urban Regeneration projects important to the development of Northern Ireland including Ebrington Public Realm and the Peace Bridge in Londonderry
8. The McAdam Design led Integrated DesignTeam consists of the following members:

   McAdam Design
   JCP Consulting
   Optimised Environments Ltd, (OPEN)
   Spiers and Major
   Jacobs
   Faithful+Gould

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10. For media enquiries contact DfC Press Office on 028 9082 9454. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.

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