John McAslan + Partners’ £300m district around Belfast Transport hub approved

Planning officers have approved John McAslan + Partners’ 135,000m² mixed-use development around Belfast’s new integrated bus and rail stationThe £300 million Weavers Cross regeneration scheme will be built next to the under-construction Belfast Grand Central Station (formerly known as the Belfast Transport Hub), which is expected to open in 2025 and is also designed by McAslan.The practice has been working on the city centre site for almost a decade. Northern Ireland’s integrated bus and rail public transport company Translink launched a contest to design the station hub back in 2013. McAslan won the competition and, following a four-year consultation process, submitted a planning application in 2017. Approval for the transport hub was given in 2019.The newly approved outline masterplan for mixed-use development around the station includes improved public spaces, hospitality and community uses as well as homes, offices and shops.Billed as a ‘vibrant new neighbourhood’, the scheme is expected to make a ‘significant contribution towards the delivery’ of Belfast City Council’s Bolder Vision for Belfast and the Belfast Agenda 2035.The station itself will become the largest integrated transport hub on the island of Ireland, providing 26 bus stands and eight rail platforms, each up to 230m long. Infrastructure works include the controversial demolition of Belfast’s 1936 Boyne Bridge.Speaking about the approval for the outline masterplan, Chris Conway, Translink Group’s chief executive said: ‘Weavers Cross promises to complement the new Belfast Grand Central Station currently in construction, ensuring we see the full economic and social benefits of this major new integrated transport hub as part of a wider long-term masterplan.‘Across the world, multi-modal transport hubs like the new Belfast Grand Central Station are at the epicentre of growth and are increasingly seen as destinations for shopping, working, employment, education, living and socialising.‘As a highly sustainable mixed-use location, it has potential for regeneration, creating space for new homes and employment, with easy access to bus, rail and active travel connections across the city and beyond.’Project dataLocation Weavers Cross, Belfast, Northern IrelandLocal authority Belfast City CouncilType of project Outline Planning, masterplanClient TranslinkArchitect John McAslan + PartnersLandscape architect John McAslan + PartnersPlanning consultant Juno PlanningStructural engineer ArupM&E consultant ArupQuantity surveyor CBRE through TranslinkFunding TranslinkStart on site date 2025Completion date -To be confirmedGross floor area 135,000m²Total cost (estimated) £300 million