Plan to create new city district

The plan aims to connect west Belfast to the city centre

A plan to create a new district to connect west Belfast to the city centre's main shopping area and central business district has been launched.

The Westside plan will include a new street between Fountain Lane and Chapel Lane, linking Donegall Place with Castlecourt shopping centre.

A new city centre square, Fountain Square, is also in the plan launched by the social development minister.

The minister also announced a £5m commitment to redevelop Bank Square.

Public consultation on the plan closes on 30 September and the Department of Social Development plans to adopt the final plan by early next year.

The minister, Margaret Ritchie, said: "My proposals build on the area's existing strengths - well established independent traders, a strong unique historic character and preservation of the historic street pattern.

"I am promoting new sustainable development, sensitive to the area, with active ground-level street frontages and an open network of streets and squares."

She said 322 residential units will be included in the plan - 20% of which will be for affordable housing.