Castlebrooke Investments, the company behind the controversial Tribeca development plan in Belfast Cathedral Quarter, have been called upon by councillors to explain themselves at City Hall over what were claimed to be delays stretching over two years.
Councillors announced themselves “frustrated” at what they alleged was the lack of progress of the Tribeca plan this week during a motion at the council's Standards and Business Committee.
Elected members agreed unanimously to call upon developers who have responsibility for the site to present proof of work to members of the council at a future meeting of its City Growth and Regeneration Committee.
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Tribeca Belfast is a £500m urban regeneration scheme by Castlebrooke Investments on a 12-acre site located beside St Anne’s Cathedral bounded by Royal Avenue, Donegall Street, Lower Garfield Street and Rosemary Street. It was approved by the Belfast Planning Council in early 2020
The plans involve the pedestrianisation of North Street, a new North Street Arcade, a ten storey office block, the reduction of Writer’s Square by over 50%, and the introduction of new streets and green spaces. It will involve residential, business and commercial space.
Belfast council received more than 450 letters of objection to the plans and five in support. Criticisms came from a number of organisations, including the St Anne’s Trust, who argued that a reduction in the size of Writer’s Square would create overflow on the cathedral side. Issues regarding overshadowing were also raised about the new apartment and office blocks.
The successful motion at City Hall this week was forwarded by Green Councillor Councillor Áine Groogan. It states: ““This council is frustrated at the lack of progress around redevelopment in the Cathedral Quarter, namely the so-called Tribeca scheme.
“The council notes with concern the continuing decline of listed and heritage buildings within the scheme and the impact that the current impasse has on the surrounding community and businesses.
“The dereliction, hoardings and abandoned scaffolding in the Cathedral Quarter area detracts from what is otherwise a thriving cultural and social hub in our city centre. This council wishes to see appropriate and sustainable regeneration of this area, that is sensitive to and in keeping with the built and cultural heritage of the Cathedral Quarter.
“It requests that Project Goat Limited, Castlebrooke Investments and/or any of their subsidiaries or related companies, who have an interest in or are responsible for the development of this site, come before a future meeting of this council or suitable committee at the earliest possible opportunity, to present on their plans and work to date on developing the area, and to answer questions from members of this council.”
The motion is expected to be ratified at the next full council meeting.
Two years ago the council backed a motion, also by Councillor Groogan that the council “recognises the significance of Writer's Square to the city of Belfast as a public and civic space, and its historical significance.”
The motion called upon the Stormont Department for Communities to ensure that any development brief relating to Writers’ Square “respects the civic use of the square as a place facilitating lawful protest and celebration.” The council further called upon the Department to ensure that the setting of St Anne’s Cathedral is “protected.” The DUP abstained on this motion.
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