A DEVELOPER behind a £500 million revamp of Belfast city centre has committed to bringing North Street Arcade back into use.
The Art Deco arcade has been derelict since a fire in 2004.
A 12-acre site beside St Anne's Cathedral, known as Tribeca Belfast, formerly Royal Exchange, will be developed by UK company Castlebrooke.
The company has submitted changes to its planning application following a 10-week consultation.
North Street Arcade will be brought into use "in a new format", with space for independent retailers.
The listed Assembly Rooms building at the corner of North Street and Waring Street will be turned into a 50-bedroom hotel, with a restaurant and bars, as part of the plans.
Part of the existing extension will be knocked down to make room for a new extension, which will include a rooftop bar.
The Tribeca area includes development in Royal Avenue, Donegall Street, Lower Garfield Street and Rosemary Street.
The height of an office block on the corner of Rosemary Street and North Street has been reduced to 10 storeys from an initial 27.
Jonathan Mitchell, director of Castlebrooke Investments, said people have given a positive response to changes to the planning application.
"Familiar themes which emerged from the feedback included the desire for more green space, the retention of as many of the historic building facades as possible, and space being made available for artisans and independent retailers," he said.
"We have responded to these points and incorporated them into the revised scheme."
