Belfast City Council has launched a substantial venture, opening doors for a development opportunity valued at over £630 million, and is now in search of a proficient long-term partner to spearhead multi-site, residential-led, mixed-use developments across the city. This initiative aligns with the ambitious Belfast Agenda, aiming to accommodate an additional 66,000 residents by 2035 through the construction of around 31,600 quality homes, primarily promoting city centre living as part of a Bolder Vision for Belfast.

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Ryan Murphy, emphasised the bold approach towards enhancing residential-led, mixed-use development across the city, underlining Belfast’s advantageous position for investment given its robust regional economic framework. This comes on the heels of significant recent regenerations including substantial investments in the Belfast Grand Central Station, Ulster University’s new city centre campus, and the Weavers Cross development.

Post active engagement with the private sector and investment market, the council is now seeking a Private Sector Partner (PSP) to act as a master developer, facilitating sustainable development with high quality placemaking and people at its core. The partner should have a proven track record in successfully delivering housing-led regeneration, across various tenures, with credentials in yielding lasting positive social, economic, and environmental impacts aligning with the scale of Belfast’s ambition.

Concept plans disclose an opportunity to develop residential-led, mixed-use developments on four city centre seed sites, with scope for further such development and regeneration across the city on additional opportunity sites. This initiative is supported by Cushman & Wakefield, with its Head of Development & Strategic Advisory, Keith Hardman, expressing enthusiasm in assisting Belfast City Council in the partner selection process for this multifaceted development project.