Hill Street Belfast pedestrianisation start date confirmed

The scheme will initially be introduced for a six month period

The pedestrianisation of a popular Belfast city centre street will start later this year, the Infrastructure Minister has confirmed.

An experimental scheme to pedestrianise Hill Street in the Cathedral Quarter has now been confirmed. It’s expected the scheme will also introduce a one-way system to Gordon Street.

The scheme will initially be introduced for a period of six months, with the scheme expected to be implemented in November. Details of the scheme will be advertised in local media during October as required by legislation, the Department for Infrastructure said.

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Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said: “Following an informal consultation period during which concerns were raised by some businesses in the area around access to their premises, my officials agreed to undertake further discussions.

“Those discussions have now concluded positively and I can confirm that the necessary paperwork is currently being prepared to allow the experimental legislation to move forward.”

Hill Street has become the central cultural spine of Belfast’s nightlife over the past 20 years, and concerns continue to be expressed over the dangerous potential for accidents as revellers and vehicles pass side by side through the tight cobbled thoroughfare.

The street was temporarily pedestrianised in 2020 during coronavirus by the Department, with a view to making the move permanent, but this was consistently delayed to the frustrations of locally elected politicians at City Hall. It was estimated earlier this year the proposal would cost around £5,000.

Earlier this week, the Department for Infrastructure told Belfast City Council it would go ahead with plans to pedestrianise the busy street.

A letter from the DfI to Belfast City Council said: “I am writing to advise that the Department proposes to take forward an ‘Experimental Order’ for the pedestrianisation of Hill Street, Belfast. The prohibition of traffic, including cyclists, will operate on Hill Street, between its junction at Gordon Street and Waring Street and will include Commercial Court and Exchange Place.

“Exemptions will allow ‘loading/unloading’ between the hours of 6am and 12pm. In addition to the above prohibition, it is also proposed to introduce a one-way traffic system along Gordon Street, from its junction with Hill Street to its junction with Dunbar Street in an easterly direction.”

SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has said Hill Street must be permanently pedestrianised.

South Belfast MLA Mr O’Toole said: “The previous pedestrianisation scheme at Hill Street, introduced by the then SDLP Minister, proved very successful and I would question the need for another temporary six-month experiment.

“The SDLP Opposition has repeatedly pushed the pedestrianisation of Hill Street as an example of Executive failure to deliver on even the simplest of initiatives. Attempts to blame UK Government austerity for being unable to afford the £5k was laughable and undermined the Minister’s credibility.

“While I welcome some progress at long last, we will be seeking assurances that this isn’t just another temporary measure.”

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