Belfast City Council's Planning Committee has approved a series of schemes this month, including two new housing developments in east Belfast.

One project will deliver 35 social homes across two blocks at 45 Park Avenue, on the site of the former Mount Masonic Hall.

A second scheme will provide 53 homes – 43 houses and 10 apartments – on the former Cabin Hill site on the Upper Newtownards Road.

Councillors also signed off on short-term letting outside term time, during July and August, at student accommodation blocks on York Street and Bradbury Place.

Approval was granted for a temporary mobile classroom complex at Harberton North Special School on Fortwilliam Park in north Belfast, to enable future refurbishment and extension of the school. The committee backed an eight-storey grade A office development on a car park site east of Lanyon Place station, comprising seven levels of offices above ground-floor retail and business space.

In addition, a change of use was approved for a vacant warehouse (the former Decco building) on Redcar Street to become an indoor padel court facility with a café, changing rooms and a gym.

Councillor Ryan Murphy, Chair of Council's Planning Committee, said: "We have had a range of major and local planning applications through Planning Committee this month which will benefit our residents through the provision of much needed accommodation in our city.

"It is also good news for our school community and parents with the approval for the temporary mobile classroom complex at Harberton North Special School on Fortwilliam Park, to facilitate the future refurbishment of the school, and, for office workers and businesses with the approval of the new grade A office block at Mays Meadow."

Further information on the Planning Committee is available at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/planning.