Plans in for Titanic Quarter neighbourhood

A planning application has been submitted for a new urban community incorporating about 800 homes in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.The Loft Lines will be a mix of private rented, social and affordable apartment homes, brought forward in partnership by Lacuna Developments, Watkin Jones Group, Titanic Quarter Limited and Belfast Harbour.The submission for the 3.8-acre residential development follows a public consultation which attracted feedback from local residents and city stakeholders.The Loft Lines will be a fully managed site, meaning that residents’ rent will include Wi-Fi, gym, and other extras such as a front-of-house concierge service. Proposed amenities include resident lounges, sports and recreational spaces, gyms, flexible working space, private dining spaces, games rooms, cinema rooms and children’s play areas.Housing sizes, from one, two, or three bed homes or studio apartments will be available, with social and affordable apartment homes representing 20 per cent of the overall scheme.The development’s name was inspired by Belfast’s loftsmen, who planned out the life-sized plate patterns of ships on the floor of the shipyard’s mould loft, which once stood on the site of the proposed scheme.At the heart of The Loft Lines site is South Yard Square, a one-acre public area which is expected to have busy, active frontages, a play area and a sports park that will be used for exercise classes and outdoor events.Commercial space will be available for a coffee shop, restaurant and shops, with discussions already taking place with a number of independent retailers and hospitality operators. A creche is also planned for families who need access to childcare on site.