Plans for the next stage of the Belfast Streets Ahead Project were unveiled last week.

The next stage of the project will see Donegall Place and Castle Place undergo a £7m facelift to include new paving and lighting making streets more accessible for pedestrians.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said: "Change is coming to Belfast. Positive change, change for the better for Donegall Place and Castle Place.

"When this first stage of this work is completed next year we will have wider pavements and partial pedestrianisation with buses running only in one direction."

The Department of Social Development has appointed an integrated team to oversee the £7m regeneration of the Donegall Place and Castle Place public realm areas.

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The integrated project team, led by Urban Designers EDAW which includes Turner & Townsend Cost Management and Mouchel Parkman also oversaw the redevelopment of the initial 13 streets outlined in the Belfast: Streets Ahead programme.

Karen Rainey, Associate Director of Turner & Townsend, said: "We are delighted to have been reappointed for area 2 of the Belfast Streets Ahead project.

"Our regeneration team worked closely with Department of Social Development on areas 1 and 3 of this project and we are looking forward to playing a key role in area 2 which will see further enhancement of Belfast's Public Realm."

Leading construction company Farrans also welcomed the announcement and were delighted at being reappointed at contractors for area 2.

Contracts Manager John McReynolds said: "We welcome the award of these works to Farrans at a time when there is so much gloomy news throughout the construction industry.

"Donegall Place and Castle Place are the gateway to our City's commercial centre and we believe that the tremendous benefits that this investment will bring will far outweigh the temporary disruption and inconvenience that visitors and shoppers may experience."

(PR/JM)