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The £35 million for revamping a chunk of Belfast city centre has been delayed further despite the devastating impact of the Primark fire.

Plans for the Streets Ahead III - Future Belfast project were first approved in 2015 with a proposed start date of 2018.

A contractor was to be announced in 2017, but Department for Communities (DfC) said the “capital budget allocated to the department does not allow us to progress further with the project at present”.

(Image: DfC)

Now Cathedral Quarter Trust and Destination CQ chair Paul McErlean said DfC has confirmed further delays.

He added: “At a time when the city centre is already under serious pressure following the Primark fire, any delay to investment is most unfortunate.

“A key decision can’t get made because we do not have a mechanism to make such a decision.

(Image: DfC)

“This is having a fundamentally negative effect on the northern part of Belfast city centre and Cathedral Quarter which has already been partly cut off by the Primark cordon.”

Phase three plans meant phase two was scrapped.

They span from Royal Avenue to Frederick Street, taking in the area around Central Library, St Anne’s Cathedral and Ulster University.

(Image: DfC)

New pavements, artwork, street furniture, lighting and gardens were all included in the project.

Mr McErlean continued: “We either need the Secretary of State’s new legislation to become law as soon as possible - assuming it will allow decisions like these to get made - and our politicians should also take note that their inability to restore devolved power is being felt on the streets of Belfast in this very tangible way.”

(Image: DfC)

Gareth Neill, Destination CQ Bid Manager added: “It is very clear, despite the recent excellent work of Belfast City Council and other City stakeholders critical intervention is urgently required to continue to stimulate investment and development in this significant area of the City.”

A Department for Communities spokesperson said: “The Department for Communities has not been able to progress with the Belfast Streets Ahead Phase 3 project as funding has not yet been available. The project remains a priority for the department and we will consider this scheme, along with others, in the context of the department’s capital funding position in the forthcoming budget.”

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