Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced changes to regeneration plans for Belfast city centre.

Minister McCausland said: "Since the publication of the Public Realm Masterplan for Belfast city centre in 2006, a number of significant changes have occurred and this has required me to review my Department’s plans to regenerate public realm in the city.

"The proposed new University of Ulster's campus at York Street and the granting of planning permission for the Royal Exchange development, have provided a fresh opportunity to enhance the connections between the north-side of the city centre and the retail core through to the City Hall.

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"These projects, and other regeneration plans for the adjacent Northside Urban Village, provide scope to significantly improve the residential capacity in the vicinity and potentially increase consumer spend within the city centre. Due to these significant changes, I have had to review the priority for the city centre in relation to enhancing its streetscape and the order in which work should be completed.

"I have decided to suspend work on Phase 2 of the Belfast: Streets Ahead programme and have instructed my officials to commence work on a third phase, concentrating on the area from Royal Avenue out to the proposed new university campus.

"I would like to thank McAdam Design and their associates for the work done on Phase 2 and hope to be in position to revisit this project in the future."

(CD/H)