Belfast City Council has announced a major step in its city centre regeneration drive, confirming the purchase of the historic Assembly Rooms, its rear extension, and adjacent assets in the Cathedral Quarter.

The Assembly Rooms, which date back to 1769, is a Grade B1 listed building on the corner of North Street and Waring Street. It has been vacant since 2000 and holds immense architectural and historic importance, having been the site where plans for a slave trading company were rejected in 1786 and where the famous Belfast Harp Festival was held in 1792.

The global significance of the building was recently acknowledged when the World Monuments Fund (WMF) selected the Assembly Rooms for inclusion on the 2025 World Monuments Watch, a bi-annual programme that spotlights heritage sites facing urgent challenges.

Councillor Natasha Brennan, Chair of Belfast City Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, hailed the purchase. "The Assembly Rooms is one of Belfast's most historic assets, so this is both a significant and a symbolic purchase for council," she said. "Regenerating this area of the city centre is a key focus for us, and our acquisition of The Assembly Rooms and neighbouring properties gives us an important opportunity to breathe new life and vibrancy into it."

In addition to the Assembly Rooms, the Council also acquired adjacent properties from Castlebrooke Investments, including:

• Part of the Donegall Street carpark site.

• 5 – 9 North Street (the former Laffin Travel building).

• Braddell's Building, 11 North St (also a Grade B1 Listed Building).

Potential future uses for the Assembly Rooms are currently being explored.

The Council also agreed to supplementary planning guidance for the Cathedral and Northeast Quarter, which seeks a heritage-led approach to regeneration, focused around a central creative and innovation corridor. This reinvigoration of the property cluster is expected to act as an important regeneration catalyst, boosting investment across the strategic area. A consultation on this planning guidance will launch later this autumn.

Councillor Brennan highlighted other ongoing initiatives, including the successful Vacant to Vibrant initiative, the development of the Belfast Stories visitor attraction opening in 2030, the transformation of Cathedral Gardens by next year, and a partnership with GRAHAM which will deliver £280 million (or £280m) worth of residential-led developments.