Consensus reached on Cathedral Quarter development

The Department for Social Development has said that it has “reached an understanding” with developers Dunloe Ewart on how new proposals for a retail development at Cathedral Quarter in central Belfast could be designed to co-exist with the major regeneration of Victoria Square that the Department is currently supporting.

When the Department announced its decision to back Victoria Square as its preferred location for a major retail-led regeneration scheme in July 2000, the Department wrote to Dunloe Ewart saying officials would be prepared to explore with them the possibility of an acceptable alternative for Cathedral Way - which would not prejudice in any way the Victoria Square project.

Dunloe Ewart now plans a reduced scale of development, with what has been described as “a clearly defined and differentiated tenant profile” from that envisaged for Victoria Square. As a result of this understanding, Dunloe Ewart is to withdraw its objections to the Victoria Square Development Scheme and proposed Vesting Order.

A Department spokesman said: “The Department remains committed to securing a multi-million pound retail development scheme for Victoria Square and is content that Dunloe Ewart’s new proposals could be designed to co-exist with the regeneration of Victoria Square.

“The Victoria Square project is on a much larger scale and aims to deliver 500,000sq ft of space. It is a mixed, mainly retail, development proposal with the potential for a prestigious new department store, apartments and leisure facilities, bringing a range of added attractions to the city. It will act as an impetus to revitalise and enlarge the city centre, and ensure Belfast can compete on a strong basis with its UK and European rivals.”

The Public Inquiry into the Department for Social Development’s Development scheme and Vesting Order for Victoria Square will start on Tuesday, January 22. (CL)