The latest phase of a £500 million Belfast Tribeca redevelopment scheme has been green lit by council.

Belfast City Council's planning committee granted approval to the amendments submitted by Castlebrook Investments as it moves towards commencing work on the major development to the north-east quarter of Belfast City Centre.

The proposed scheme will deliver residential, hotel, office, retail, culture and leisure units across parts of Royal Avenue, Lower Garfield Street, North Street, Donegall Street and Rosemary Street.

Planning permission for the Tribeca scheme follows a ten week public consultation to the amendments tabled in August 2019 after opposition to the landmark scheme was voiced.

The amendments are as follows:

• Re-imagining of North Street Arcade with space designed for independent retailers.

• Grade A offices located on the corner of Rosemary Street and North Street have now been reduced to 10 storeys.

• Green spaces, courtyards and residential spaces.

• Ground floor retail spaces.

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• Further retention of the historic streetscape of North Street and Donegall Street.

• The 27 storey tower on Rosemary Street has been reduced to 10 storeys.

• Additional Heritage Building Fabric retained.

• Removal of the 800+ space basement carpark.

• Additional residential living c.360 units across the site.

• More public spaces in the form of a new 'Assembly Square'.

• Pedestrianisation of North Street.

• A re-imagined and improved Writer's Square adjacent to Donegall Street which remains open to traffic.

Cautiously welcoming the scheme's approval, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said the project could contribute towards Belfast's development to one of the top ten retail destinations in the UK and Ireland.

Significant obstacles remain, however, the retail chief has warned.

"The key challenge arising from this decision is the Council and Tribeca continuing to engage with all the key stakeholders in the City Centre and Cathedral Quarter to ensure this project delivers for Belfast as a whole," Mr Roberts said.

"The Cathedral Quarter is one of Belfast's economic drivers and it vital that its vibrant arts and culture sector voice is heard.

"We want to see Tribeca, Waterside (Sirroco) and Ulster University and all the other new investments help contribute to creating a 21st Century city centre. Belfast city centre needs to an open and inclusive place, where all communities can continue to work, live, shop and socialise.

"Retail NI wants to see a big, bold and radical plan for a 21st century Belfast city centre which is family-friendly with more independent retailers, a vibrant living community and one that is above all else, a fun place to visit.

"Successful cities across the world have core high-density urban living with people walking or cycling to work. This shouldn't just mean single people living in lots of high-rise apartments, but also families living in our city centre."

It's hoped the mixed-use development will reach completion by 2023.

(JG/CM)