Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland, has announced the appointment of local company McAdam Design to develop proposals for the public areas around Belfast City Hall.

The estimated cost of this design contract is £900,000.

Minister McCausland said: "Today's announcement starts the process of engaging with key stakeholders and the general public about the high specification public realm that we want to create around our city hall. Following the successful completion of the improvement of the 14 streets in the main shopping area, we now have an opportunity to build on this by presenting Belfast City Hall as the jewel in the crown.

"I will be setting up a stakeholder group made up of private, public and community sector representatives to advise the design team on the key elements for this area. The design team will produce a range of options leading to a preferred design to be submitted for planning approval by 2013.

-- Advertisement --

"One of the exciting opportunities includes: getting a better balance between buses and pedestrians in the area, which ultimately could lead to the removal of buses from around the city hall or alternatively not having them continually parked in the area but simply dropping passengers off and collecting them.

"This project will also be closely integrated with the emerging rapid transport proposals for the city centre."

In welcoming their appointment Reynold Anthony, senior partner McAdam Design stated: "We are delighted to have been awarded the commission for Phase 2 of the Belfast Streets Ahead project. Our company is a local Belfast firm and one of Northern Ireland's largest independent consultancies. We have extensive experience in delivering large public realm and infra-structure projects across Northern Ireland including, the Oasis Project Omagh, the Peace Bridge and the Connswater Community Greenway. Our integrated consultant team, which includes Optimised Environments (Landscape Architects), JCP( M&E and Cost Consultants), have just successfully completed the Ebrington Parade Ground public realm project for Ilex and we look forward to assisting DSD and other key stakeholders such as Belfast City Council with the transformation of the public realm in the vicinity of the Belfast City Hall."

(CD/GK)