A planning application was lodged yesterday for a £90 million mixed used development in a rundown area of north Belfast.

The Big Picture Development project is to be situated on a neglected patch - designated for development in the draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan - between Great George's Street and Nelson Street.

Named 'The Lighthouse', the development is to include 180,000 sq ft of office space, 150 apartments, car parking, retail and leisure facilities.

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Barry Gilligan, Director at Big Picture Dvelopments said that building work on the site would employ up 1,000 construction workers and see over 2,000 people living and working in the area once completed.

"This is an innovative scheme that creates an iconic building for the northern side of the city centre," he said.

"We believe that this location also works as a mixed use development and have included a protected apartment development to the southern side of the site - also helping to create a catalyst for the regeneration of this area.

"There will be very high quality homes of mixed sizes and we are committed to working with the Department for Social Development to ensure that this development supports its proposals for affordable housing provision going forward," Mr Gilligan added.

(VB/JM)