1. Purpose of document
Role and consultation process
Role of Supplementary Planning Guidance
This Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) provides advice on the future visions and roles of a series of Development Opportunity Areas identified across the city centre, with an emphasis on placemaking principles and good urban design practice.
This SPG applies to specific ‘opportunity’ areas identified within the Belfast City Centre boundary and is intended to be a point of reference for:
- Planning officers - in assessing and making recommendations on planning applications.
- Elected members - who make decisions on planning applications.
- Applicants and their multidisciplinary design teams (urban designers, planners, architects, landscape architects, developers and planning consultants) - in preparation of planning applications.
- Communities and their local representatives.
- Other interested stakeholders within the planning process.
Photograph of St Anne's Cathedral and its wider setting on Donegall Street
Photograph of Commercial Court which has been transformed into a vibrant and creative public spill-out space
We published draft SPG in respect of DOA_07 Cathedral & NE Quarter for public consultation for a period of 12 weeks from 06 November 2025 to 29 January 2026.
In keeping with our Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), we endeavoured to ensure that the exercise was meaningful, inclusive and fit for purpose. Throughout the consultation process we aimed to provide clear information and encourage participation in an informative, user friendly, inclusive, open and transparent way.
Informal pre-consultation stakeholder meetings
In advance of the formal public consultation process, a series of informal meetings and presentations were held with key stakeholders and landowners associated with the DOA.
These informal discussions were held between August and October 2025 with representatives from Ulster University and consultants representing clients associated with the former Tribeca lands, as well as a range of Statutory Agencies including representation from DfI, NI Water, DAERA, NIHE and DfC.
