New vision unveiled for Linen Quarter in heart of Belfast

A new vision for one of Belfast’s most historic districts and the former heart of the city’s linen industry has been unveiled by council leaders, who hope it can breathe new life and investment into the key commercial area.

The Linen Quarter, which lies to the south of Belfast City Hall and encompasses many of the city's best-known landmarks from the Ulster Hall to Queen's University, is one of five special priority areas identified in Belfast's city centre regeneration and investment strategy.

The council believes the strategy will help transform Belfast by creating more jobs, increasing the population, attracting new retail stores and developing the city’s tourism industry.

The Linen Quarter boasts some of the city’s most significant historical buildings and its many fine former mercantile warehouses offer a glimpse into Belfast’s glorious past when it once dominated the global linen industry.

Today, the quarter is also home to a number of large city council offices, Invest NI head offices, major businesses and an ever increasing volume of hotels.

Arrival spots

It is also where BBC Northern Ireland is located and is one of the city’s busiest arrival spots. It is set to become ever-more populated as it is next to a proposed £100 million Belfast transport hub at Great Victoria Street.

Last summer, Belfast City Council appointed urban design and landscape specialists Planit Intelligent Environments to produce a draft public realm analysis and vision for the Linen Quarter and this week the council published the draft document for a public consultation which will run until Friday, March 11th.

The document includes proposals to complement existing development activity and increase the commercial and financial viability of new developments in the quarter.

Public spaces

It looks at ways of reusing or redeveloping existing buildings, introducing new public spaces as well as providing design guidance for new developments.

Cllr Deirdre Hargey, chairwoman of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee, said the council wants to develop a world-class city centre, "one that drives growth across the city and the wider region" while also protecting the area's heritage.

“The document, which is out for public consultation, sets out a blueprint to improve the quality of public realm, streetscape and architecture in the area so that it matches the standards of other leading European cities,” Ms Hargey said.

She is now urging everyone with an interest in the area to share their ideas on how the Linen Quarter area will look in the future.