P-0406 Hope Street Transformation project and Development Opportunity

The Housing Executive is seeking to appoint a developer to deliver its vision for a residential-led, regeneration scheme on a two-acre site at Hope Street, Belfast. This opportunity therefore relates to the sale and development of that site in accordance with the Housing Executive’s requirements, as set out in the procurement documentation.

Hope Street is a strategically important city centre development site owned by the Housing Executive in an area that is benefitting from significant long term investment with the completion of the new Belfast Grand Central Station and the commencement of the Weavers Cross mixed-use regeneration scheme on surrounding land (about Weavers Cross).

The development opportunity at Hope Street is fundamentally aligned with ‘the Belfast Agenda’, Belfast City Council’s first Community Plan (Belfast Agenda) to promote inner city living with a renewed focus on delivering city centre accommodation and supporting a vibrant, liveable city centre. The area surrounding Hope Street currently comprises a mix of commercial, residential and leisure uses, and it is in close proximity to the city’s two main hospitals and universities. Hope Street is a gateway site to South Belfast and beyond. It is located close to businesses across IT, pharmaceutical and consultancy sectors and is adjacent to the residential community of Sandy Row. The transformation of Hope Street has the potential to enhance the connectivity between the local residential community of Sandy Row and the city centre economy by creating strong links through the site to surrounding areas that are animated by vibrant, safe, green open spaces and light commercial activity.

The Housing Executive invites responses from developers who are interested in delivering high quality proposals that meet the Housing Executive’s Vision and Objectives for a housing-led, mixed-use urban regeneration scheme.

The Housing Executive recognises the contribution that developers can make to urban regeneration and welcomes the innovation available to them through professional expertise and funding solutions.

As the Strategic Housing Authority for Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive aims to provide a variety of housing choices at Hope Street that addresses the multi-tenure housing need in the area, including social homes and a mix of intermediate and private homes for sale or rent.

The redevelopment of Hope Street will provide a variety of much needed sustainable housing choices in Belfast city centre. A small provision for commercial use (10% of overall floor area) alongside quality public realm will animate the area, boost economic activity and attract new employment opportunities. Taking advantage of its strategic location, the development will promote active travel and create vibrant connections that will enhance accessibility and integration with the local context.

The Housing Executive has set out a clear vision for the redevelopment which will provide secure, affordable housing choices in Belfast City Centre creating safe, vibrant and environmentally friendly places. It will enhance accessibility and support the development of public realm and green spaces prioritising walking, cycling and public transport and remove barriers to movement between the city centre and surrounding communities, underpinned by 5 key objectives:

1: Residential: the majority of the development will be permanent residential homes for all;

2: Public realm: health and wellbeing improved with the provision of exemplar green space;

3: Integration & Accessibility; the site links to a city-wide network of people friendly routes;

4: Sustainability & Resilience: the advantage of location is utilised to support sustainability;

5: Commercial: stimulates economic growth and employment opportunities.

Further details are provided in the Design Specification which has been provided as part of the procurement documentation.

Further details regarding the opportunity are available in the cft documents section on eTenderNI. In addition, Lisney Commercial Real Estate has been appointed by the Housing Executive to proactively formally market and promote the property to the wider development market and as part of that role, has prepared an extended marketing brochure and promotional video, details of how to obtain are contained within the Invitation to Tender document. Developers (and members of their Developer’s Teams) may contact Lisney Commercial Real Estate to obtain a copy of the marketing brochure for the site via the contact details provided in the Invitation to Tender. Developers should note however that all clarification requests must be submitted via the eTendersNI messaging facility in accordance with the instructions set out in the Invitation to Tender.