Work has begun on the development of a new venue for community-based and Christian activities in Belfast.

The £300,000 project will see the upgrade of a basement area at May Street Presbyterian Church and improvements to an adjoining entrance lobby.

It is thought the new facility will also qualify for an entertainments licence.

£200,000 is being provided by funding from Belfast City Council, through its Local Investment Fund, with match funding of £50,000 from the Alpha Programme, managed and administered by Groundwork NI, Landfill Community Fund (Tax Credits programme).

The May Street church will also receive £50,000 from Biffa Award, a multi-million pound community fund. The grant is specifically to cover flood protection measures and improved drainage.

The scheme is expected to be completed by the end of March 2015.

Arthur Acheson, Clerk of Session at May Street, said: "We wish to place on record its thanks to the funders who have made it possible for us to start turning our dreams into reality.

"Our aim is to build on the innovative events that have already taken place under the auspices of Urban Soul Cafe over the last seven years. We have played host to conferences, concerts, jazz evenings, charity dinners, dance studios, training sessions, an art exhibition, a craft fair, faith groups, cross-community youth groups, team-building, business meetings, economic discussions, seminars and discussion groups.

"Our new-look venue will have an entertainments licence, which means events such as concerts and a non-alcoholic night club can be seriously contemplated. We know there is a need out there and we hope to help address it. We also see opportunities for passionate communities of interest and individuals to bring ideas and action to May Street so that the newly refurbished rooms can create maximum benefit to the city centre, by day and by night, weekdays and weekends."

(IT/MH)