Belfast Streets Ahead Phase 5

The overall aim of the Belfast Streets Ahead programme is to maximize the potential of the city centre’s public realm to position Belfast as a premier European regional capital and the primary retail and leisure destination in Northern Ireland. The programme objectives are:

• To improve and enhance the physical appearance of the city centre, building on the work completed under earlier phases of the programme;

• To contribute to the physical regeneration of Belfast city centre;

• To provide a cohesive approach to the development of the public realm;

• To strengthen the economic viability of the city centre;

• To enhance the attractiveness of Belfast city centre to visitors and investors; and

• To improve access to Belfast city centre from all parts of the city.

The Phase 5 study area comprises Bedford Street, Dublin Road (including the traffic island at the Ormeau Avenue/Dublin Road junction and the Thompson Memorial Fountain which is located on it), Shaftesbury Square, Bradbury Place, Great Victoria Street, Fisherwick Place, College Avenue, College Square East, Howard Street, Donegall Square South, Franklin Street, Brunswick Street, James Street South (from Brunswick Street to Bedford Street), Amelia Street, Bains Place, Blackstaff Square, McClintock Street, Clarence Street West, Little Victoria Street, Holmes Street, Ventry Street, Ventry Lane, Downshire Place, Harmony Street and approximately 50 metres of Donegall Pass and Botanic Avenue at Shaftesbury Square junction. The overall project area is approximately 76,000m2 and will involve some 30,000m2 of footways, 42,000m2 for carriageway and 4,000m2 for minor streets. The associated public realm improvement works will include surfacing, lighting, landscaping, street furniture, public artwork and all associated works. The project may also include the restoration of the Thompson Memorial Fountain.

For more information on the project, visit the Department for Communities website.