Plans have been approved for Weavers Cross, a significant transport-led regeneration project in the city.
It promises to bring around 1.3 million square feet of mixed-use space to central Belfast.
The regeneration plans brought forward by Translink would see the creation of a new mixed use ‘city neighbourhood with the new Belfast Grand Central Station at its heart'.
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It's set to feature a major mixed-use development scheme including offices, residential, hotel and ancillary retail/leisure.
Translink say the project aims to deliver both spatial and social regeneration of both the area and the wider city as well as encouraging and enabling a modal shift away from private cars.
Belfast Grand Central Station, a NI Executive flagship project, is the catalyst for this major regeneration project, which will deliver 'an immediate economic impact'.
The development will require around 5,000 man-hours to construct the masterplan and could create space for 8,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
The long-term redevelopment presents an opportunity to unlock £1bn of additional spend in the economy and to create a legacy of wider regeneration.
Translink Group Chief Executive Chris Conway said: “We welcome this announcement by Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee. Weavers Cross promises to complement the new Belfast Grand Central Station currently in construction, ensuring we see the full economic and social benefits of this major new integrated transport hub as part of a wider long-term masterplan.
“We are also committed to delivering on Social Value alongside our development partner, in areas such as employment and skills provision, diversity and inclusion, arts and heritage, health, well-being and the environment. Social value will remain a key focus of the project throughout every stage of development."
He added: “Across the world, multi-modal transport hubs like the new Belfast Grand Central Station are at the epicentre of growth and are increasingly seen as destinations for shopping, working, employment, education, living and socialising. As a highly sustainable mixed-use location, it has potential for regeneration, creating space for new homes and employment, with easy access to bus, rail and active travel connections across the city and beyond.
“The development of this major project will make it easier for people living and working at Weavers Cross to lead lives less dependent on the private car, driving modal shift to public and active transport and helping to achieve Northern Ireland’s climate ambitions.
“We look forward to announcing our development partners who will work with us on the delivery of Weavers Cross, to deliver on this ambition over the coming years and will continue to work with all our stakeholders including Belfast City Council, and the local communities as the scheme progresses.”
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