Linen Quarter Consultation To End On 11 March

A public consultation on the proposed future development of the Linen Quarter is to end at 4pm on Friday, 11 March.

An exhibition displaying a draft plan of how the Linen Quarter could look in the future went on display at the Ulster Hall last month. Belfast City Council has also been engaging with the public and key stakeholders through public meetings. It is also welcoming public feedback through an online survey on its website.

The Linen Quarter includes a number of the city's key business and public sector headquarters as well as existing and planned hotel developments – taking in Bedford Street, Linenhall Street, Adelaide Street, Alfred Street and Ormeau Avenue among other streets.

The draft public realm analysis and vision for the area includes proposals to revitalise Blackstaff Square and introduce a new central and green space within the Linen Quarter that could be used as a public meeting area or to hold outside events.

There has also been support for using the upper floors of buildings for residential purposes where there is a limited interest in office or hotel use.

Councillor Deirdre Hargey, Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee, said: "The regeneration of the Linen Quarter area is a key project within the council's City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy which outlines our vision of developing a world-class city centre – one that drives growth across the city and the wider region.

"The Linen Quarter contains a significant number of historical buildings that reflect the area's role as the centre of the linen industry in the mid 19th century and one of our main objectives is to protect the heritage of the area while also ensuring it continues to flourish with new regeneration and development.

"The document which is out for public consultation sets out a blueprint to improve the quality of public realm, streetscape and architecture in the area so that it matches the standards of other leading European cities.

"We would call on the public and key stakeholders in the area to view the draft plan and provide their feedback on the future of the Linen Quarter."

(MH)