Northern Ireland round-up: Belfast greenway expansion on the cards; Capital’s stock of flats boosted by 320

Belfast greenway expansion on the cards

Proposals for a wider network of ‘greenways’ across east Belfast is gaining traction and was welcomed this week by the capital’s Lord Mayor, John Finucane.

The Planner

RTPI announces winner of learning partner award

The City of Edinburgh Council has won the RTPI’s Learning Partner Award for 2019.

The Planner

Environment Bill launched in Parliament

The UK Government has introduced a bill to Parliament that aims to tackle the ‘biggest environmental priorities of our time’.

The Planner

Capital’s stock of flats boosted by 320

Outline proposals for over 320 new flats in the capital have been approved this week by Belfast City Council: the redevelopment of a surface car-park bounded by Glenalpin Street, Wellwood Street and Norwood Street to provide around 200 units; 53 units at the former Monarch Laundry site in Donegall Road; and 71 units in a 10-storey tower in Dublin Road, which will be a mixed-use development.

Belfast City Council

Derry hydropower project blocked

The Department for Infrastructure has refused permission for a hydroelectricity project at Lower Ballyartan Road in Claudy, Derry, which would have involved an Archimedes’ screw turbine, a turbine house and a fish ladder.

Planning Portal

Greener public transport will need £3 billion investment

Chris Conway, chief executive of public transport operator Translink, has warned that £3 billion of investment will be needed over the next 10 years to guarantee a greener transport system.

Belfast Telegraph

Pioneering bat monitoring station for Derry park

Derry City & Strabane District Council has installed a new bat monitoring station in Bay Park, the first of its kind in the country, in an initiative to help local bat populations thrive.

Derry City & Strabane District Council

Belfast housing proposals make waves

A planning application has been submitted for 650 homes at Glenmona in west Belfast by the Braidwater Group and Chinese supermarket Camseng International revealed that it proposes to replace its current retail premises off the Lisburn Road in south Belfast with an £8 million block of flats.

Belfast Telegraph

River Lagan clean-up begins

A £3.3 million project funded by the Department for Communities has begun to remove thousands of tonnes of silt that lies on the bed of the River Lagan in a bid to improve the river’s water quality and ecosystem.

Northern Ireland Executive

Bee alert

There are 21 bee species in Northern Ireland that are at risk of extinction unless action is taken, according to a report from conservation charity Buglife Northern Ireland.

BBC News