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Date: 21 April 2026
Category: Planning
Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee has agreed two Supplementary Planning Guidance masterplans identifying ‘Development Opportunity Areas’ in the city centre’s Cathedral and Northeast Quarter, and Sailortown, Greater Clarendon and City Quays.
The Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) supports and clarifies policies included in council’s Local Development Plan (LDP). It is non-statutory planning guidance, intended to be read in conjunction with the existing planning framework, as a guide to developers, communities and local representatives and to assist in assessing planning proposals.
Councillor Ryan Murphy, Chair of Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee, said: “This is all about guiding the regeneration of key parts of the city. It’s our intention that these SPGs will encourage a greater focus on placemaking and heritage as we seek to attract investment in housing and mixed-use developments to support our Belfast Agenda objectives. They will be material in determining relevant planning applications in both areas and will provide important direction for developers and the wider community about how the Council would like to see these areas developed in the future.
“These documents have been developed with real care and consideration, taking on board public consultation feedback. They provide a clear and 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 – areas which hold great historic significance and exciting potential.”
In other business at its meeting this evening, the Planning Committee approved permanent change of use for Common Market in Cathedral Quarter, from warehouse and offices to public house and entertainment venue/events space including a street food market. It also granted planning permission for the construction of a new three storey Sports Hall, Gymnasium and PE Facility and footbridge connecting to an existing GAA playing field at St Mary’s Christian Brothers Grammar School on the Glen Road.
For more information on the council’s Local Development Plan (LDP), go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/ldp