4. Development Opportunity Areas
The Seven Areas
City Centre provision
The Local Policies Plan (LPP) presents an opportunity for the council to identify sites across the city centre which have significant capacity for new housing, commercial and mixed-use development and new public open space linked to existing or potential improvements to public realm and public transport accessibility. Referred to as Development Opportunity Areas (DOAs), a total of seven DOAs have been identified across the city centre which collectively will present a range of opportunities for new homes and employment creation as well as providing a degree of certainty for inward investment.
The list of DOAs comprise:
- DOA_01 Sailortown, Greater Clarendon and City Quays
- DOA_02 East Bank
- DOA_03 Ormeau Avenue
- DOA_04 Shaftesbury Square
- DOA_05 Weaver's Cross
- DOA_06 Inner North West
- DOA_07 Cathedral and North East Quarter
Geographical spread of all seven DOAs across Belfast City Centre
DOA boundaries are highlighted on the map.
Policies as set out in the Plan Strategy, alongside the suite of Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG), will apply to any proposals arising from the DOAs. Additional criteria as set out within the LPP will apply overarching principles to all designated DOAs in addition to site specific principles as set out for each individual DOA area. DOA boundaries are defined within respective masterplans and will include suggested development layouts, improved connections, transport connections or upgrades and site-specific requirements, including public open space or public realm provision and any relevant infrastructure improvements.
Individual DOA format
Future uses in Section 5 has information pertaining to a specific DOA comprising an overview of the area alongside a summary of challenges facing that area. Local policy takes the form of placemaking principles which are considered key to achieving the vision for each DOA.
These placemaking principles have been applied spatially in the form of a masterplan with additional supporting information covering historical analysis of the individual area, identification of relevant historic assets and a synopsis of the area’s current strengths and weaknesses.
