This week we learned that a number of car parks and vacant land in Belfast city centre are set to be transformed into a new housing and retail development.
Belfast City Council announced that it has appointed Clanmil Housing Association to develop a mixed use, residential led scheme in the city centre’s inner northwest area.
In total 1.7 acres of city centre land owned by the council and Department for Communities at Little Donegall Street, Library Street and Kent Street is to be developed as a significant housing led regeneration scheme, with placemaking and neighbourhood connections at its core.
It is envisaged that the residential scheme will see the delivery of a range of mixed tenure homes, consisting of social and private houses and apartments to meet the changing needs of people who want to live in the city.
The scheme will also feature community infrastructure spaces and commercial units.
With less parking options now available as more people are heading back into the city centre, finding an affordable place to park for the day or even just a few hours can be a real challenge.
With that in mind we took to the streets of Belfast to ask people their views on the cost of parking in the city centre. Many were of the view that parking in Belfast has become way too expensive and something they try to avoid by taking public transport instead.
One man told Belfast Live: "I think it's crazy. Why, why are they charging too much? You would think they would be trying to encourage people into the town rather than keep them out of it.
"I think it's ridiculous, we have to pay so much just to come into town Not only that but to come in and see a lot of empty shops too which is terrible for Belfast and terrible for the economy."
Another woman told us: "It's terrible. We try to avoid it. We would come up on the train. Well, obviously because we can, but the parking prices in Belfast and the availability of parking is very, very poor.
"More people would come if there's more car parking, affordable car parking, but Belfast City Council doesn't seem to think like that."
Have your say: Do you think there's enough affordable parking in the city centre? Vote below
Her male companion added: "It's far too expensive if you're coming in a vehicle at all. I'm quite fortunate as I drive a motorcycle, so I can normally get in anywhere provided, the wardens aren't about, you know, but it's ridiculous.
"We would normally go to the North Street area. We used to go to one off North Street on the right hand side and then all of a sudden you can't get in. There's nowhere, and then you have to try and drive about to get somewhere else. Half your day's gone before you even get anywhere."
A regular commuter added: "It's getting in and getting out with the traffic, if the Glider has like the bus routes, why not just get the bus?"
That view was shared by this man: "I'm happy to use the bus. One of the things I think is really bad is where staff say in the hospital have to pay to park in their hospital. No other civil servant really has to pay for parking spaces. They don't do it in Stormont and Dundonald House or schools."
Video by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.
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