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Date: 6 November 2025
Belfast City Council has published two draft Supplementary Planning Guidance masterplans identifying ‘Development Opportunity Areas’ in the Cathedral and Northeast Quarter of the city centre, and the Sailortown, Greater Clarendon and City Quays areas, of the city.
Council will be consulting on the draft masterplans for a period of 12 weeks, up to Thursday 29 January, and are welcoming public feedback.
The Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) supports and clarifies policies included within council’s Local Development Plan (LDP).
The SPG represents non-statutory planning guidance and is intended to be read in conjunction with the existing planning framework, as set out in the Belfast LDP.
Councillor Ryan Murphy, Chair of Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee, said: “The Local Development Plan enables Council to develop masterplans to help regenerate key parts of the city.
“These will promote plan-led investment and help to encourage more housing and mixed-use development to support the objectives of the city’s community plan, the Belfast Agenda.
“They include a greater focus in placemaking and a heritage approach that will facilitate the creation of a high-quality environment for future residents and visitors and will provide more greater certainty for inward investment.
“SPG documents have been developed for two Development Opportunity Areas and provide a comprehensive masterplan approach to the future development of both the Sailortown, Greater Clarendon and City Quays areas and the Cathedral and Northeast quarter of the city centre - with an emphasis on placemaking principles and good urban design practice.”
The masterplans are intended to guide developers, communities and local representatives within the planning process and will help in the assessment of planning proposals.
Council has developed 18 SPGS since the Belfast Local Development Plan was adopted in May 2023 providing non statutory guidance which supports, clarifies and/or illustrates policies contained within the current planning policy framework.
To respond to the consultation on the two draft masterplans, visit the council’s Your Say platform and complete the survey - https://yoursay.belfastcity.gov.uk/ldp-sailortown-and-cathedral-quarter-doa
You can also email comments to [email protected] or send by post to Belfast Planning Service, Cecil Ward Building, 4-10 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 BBP.
For more information on the council’s Local Development Plan (LDP), visit https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/ldp