The Opportunity
Weavers Cross is an entirely new city centre neighbourhood created around Grand Central Station.
Located alongside the largest integrated transport hub in Ireland, Weavers Cross will regenerate a major brownfield site in central Belfast. And it will reconnect a city locally, nationally and internationally.
Spanning approximately 1.5 million sqft. of space across ten plots and with an estimated Gross Development Value of £500M, Weavers Cross is Northern Ireland’s single most ambitious and, crucially, sustainable mixed-use endeavour, comprising grade A office, residential, leisure and public realm spaces.
The Weavers Cross concept embodies the principles of the 15-minute city, where residents and visitors have convenient access to all their essential services – work, social and leisure-related – within a short walk or cycle.
The Development
Weavers Cross is divided into three core zones – each with a distinct character.
Saltwater Square
Saltwater Square is at the very heart of Weavers Cross and will become a flourishing and vibrant public space with diverse biophilia and carefully considered landscaping. With the potential for 260,000 sqft. of super prime Grade A Office space positioned immediately adjacent to the entrance of the new Belfast Grand Central Station, the square is framed by two perfectly proportioned commercial buildings. The landmark building flanking the northern boundary, while the complementary smaller southern building is designed to maximise natural sunlight, ensuring Saltwater square remains a bright and welcoming place for all throughout the day.
WORX Innovation Campus
This 635,000 sqft. technology, innovation and life sciences hub is strategically situated between Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University, and is just minutes from both the Royal Victoria and Belfast City Hospitals. The Belfast City Deal projects mean that the WORX Campus is an outstanding prospect for innovation that is both world-class and future-proof. Its elevated linear park offers opportunity for social infrastructure and a space to transition between the city and the west of the city.
Flax Yards
Comprising six plots totalling approximately 650,000 sqft., Flax Yards is the living component within Weavers Cross, comprising at least 400 residential units and including affordable housing. Flax yards will feature generous pedestrian promenades, active ground-floor and elegant landscaping. It represents the seamless stitching of Weavers Cross back into the living fabric of Belfast city centre.
INDICATIVE MASTERPLAN
Indicative masterplan massing and areas shown below.
The masterplan benefits from a flexible outline planning approval with maximum horizontal and vertical parameter plans which set out the extent of development.
| PLOT | No. Floors | GEA Floor sqft |
GEA Total sqft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worx Innovation Campus | |||
| Plot 1 | 11 | 53,400 | 503,000 |
| Plot 2 | 8 | 18,200 | 133,600 |
| Saltwater Square | |||
| Plot 3A | 7 | 12,800 | 88,300 |
| Plot 3B | 14 | 14,000 | 171,400 |
| Flax Yards | |||
| Plot 4A | 12 | 14,200 | 164,900 |
| Plot 4B | 11 | 11,700 | 124,900 |
| Plot 5 | 11 | 7,000 | 73,200 |
| Plot 6 | 13 | 12,900 | 139,900 |
| Plot 7A | 12 | 10,400 | 103,500 |
| Plot 7B | 8 | 6,000 | 47,600 |
| Total | 1,550,300 | ||