The public is being urged to attend drop in sessions to give their views on a proposed development strategy for the East Bank of the River Lagan in Belfast.

The sessions, hosted by the Belfast City council, will take place on:

• Thursday 17 August – East Belfast Network Centre (3pm – 7.30pm)

• Friday 23 August – Lagan Look-Out (11am – 7.30pm)

• Thursday 07 September – Short Strand Community Centre (10am – 1pm)

• Thursday 14 September – Short Strand Community Centre (3pm – 7.30pm).

At the beginning of July, the Council launched a 12-week consultation into proposals designed to regenerate the East Bank and help give it greater connectivity to the city centre.

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The aim of the consultation, and the resulting strategy is to inform planning and investment decisions that will impact the long-term development of this area, which comprises 43 acres with a long frontage of 865 metres along the river. It runs from the SSE Arena car park at its northern end to the Sirocco Works site to the south, and is bounded by Short Strand to the east.

"The draft strategy includes six key recommendations that, if implemented, would see the East Bank fully woven into the fabric of the city centre by 2030," commented Councillor Mairéad O'Donnell, Chair of the Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee.

"The objective would be to create an area which is lively, diverse, accessible and well-connected to the city core, the River Lagan and surrounding communities, providing places to live, work and socialise.

"To this end, four place-making themes are explored in the draft strategy. These include maximising the potential of development sites across the area; energising the River Lagan corridor; creating a connected and legible East Bank and making streets and spaces for people."

The consultation will run until Friday, 29 September.

(CD/LM)