ONE of the main gateways into Lisburn is in
line for a major multi-million pound redevelopment, including a
hotel, which would create a prestigious riverfront quarter for
the city.
Lisburn City Council launched a development
framework this week for the Young Street area as part of the
Council's vision to re-open the river Lagan and create a higher
level activity on the riverside and carry out development which
enhances the river.
Apart from a much needed 100-bed city centre
hotel, the exciting plans for the riverside area include office
and residential developments, a landmark building with
restaurant, the re-instatement of Young Street/ Hillsborough Old
Road frontages and high quality public realm space. The design
of the new development is of great importance, with the planners
stating: "It is ofparamount importance the buildings and the
spaces around them are of the highest possible quality in terms
of design and materials, in order to create a showpiece
riverfront quarter for Lisburn, which appropriately reflects the
prestigious location and promotes Lisburn City Centre as a
contemporary and vibrant European city." Consultation has
already taken place between the Council's Planners BDP, the
current landowners and the statutory agencies which have an
appropriate remit.
Riverfront quarter planned for city
Launching the proposals this week Chairman of
Lisburn Council Economic Development Committee Alderman Edwin
Poots MLA said the vision for the area would halt the decline
that has taken place in the retail sector around Market Square
and Bridge Street.
"The proposed development would create a
substantial number of jobs within the City that would assist
more appropriate retail to be opened up in the Historic Quarter
of Lisburn," said Mr Poots.
"The
proposal to have four storey office/residential developments
would lead to a significant increase in footfall for the area
and the quality of the development would be high given its
riverside location and the potential for quality architecture to
be constructed.
"We are also keen to see the proposed hotel
development take place and welcome the fact a suitable
inner-city site has been identified while recognising its
development could be constrained by the current landowner's
reluctance to sell the necessary land."
"The Council are also keen to see new sites
developed for the retail park that currently exists at Young
Street and we would hope that a positive outcome can be achieved
on a recent planning application for such development at
Sprucefield.
Economic Development Vice Chairman Allan
Ewart welcomed the fact the key landowners were in attendance at
the launch.
"The Council have given a guide to what could
reasonably happen on the site and it is now over to the private
sector to move the proposals forward," said Mr Ewart. "This has
the potential to deliver a very exciting development which would
introduce a significant number of quality office jobs to the
City Centre and revitalise this riverside location."
Ulster Star
24/03/2006
