How Buoy Park will look after Communities Minister Paul Givan and Lord Mayor Brian Kingston unveiled Phase 3 of the Belfast Streets Ahead programme

How Library Street will look after Communities Minister Paul Givan and Lord Mayor Brian Kingston unveiled Phase 3 of the Belfast Streets Ahead programme

Part of Belfast city centre is set for a major facelift thanks to a multi-million pound investment that will transform the area.

The announcement was made by Communities Minister, Paul Givan, who said the investment will improve the streetscape from Castle Place to the new Ulster University campus on York Street.

The public realm scheme, which was designed by a team led by McAdam Design, will see the area revamped, with new paving, street furniture, lighting and public artwork.

The DUP minister's department is contributing over £20m to the scheme which forms phase three of the 'Belfast: Streets Ahead' programme, aimed at regenerating the entire city centre in a number of separate stages.

Belfast City Council is also set to contribute £5m.

Minister Givan said: "This latest phase will deliver a high quality, sustainable public realm scheme in the north of the city centre that will make a significant contribution to the wider regeneration works in the area.

"These works will make the area more welcoming, vibrant and attractive to further investment, and will build on the successful implementation of Belfast Streets Ahead."

"My department, in close co-operation with Belfast City Council, Transport NI, Translink and other public and private sector stakeholders, have been working alongside the Ulster University to develop design proposals for the area.

"The next stage of the project is the appointment of a contractor to deliver the capital works for Phase 3, and I am pleased to announce that this process is now underway."

Belfast Lord Mayor, Alderman Brian Kingston, commented: "I am delighted that this investment by Belfast City Council will enhance this part of the city centre - one of a number of projects linked to our regeneration plans across Belfast."

"It is vital that we play our part in promoting the growth of Belfast's economy by ensuring our city centre is an attractive environment for visitors and locals to visit and do business in," he added.

Belfast Telegraph