Businesses on Donegall Street in Belfast have raised concerns after a metal safety barrier was erected outside a derelict building, closing a section of footpath and restricting traffic to a single lane.

The barrier was put in place on 24 July. Signs attached to it read "Dangerous structure - Keep out."

Deirdre Robb, chief executive of Belfast Exposed, an art gallery opposite the cordon, described the structure as an eyesore. She said the gallery had received no communication from Belfast City Council, the Department for Infrastructure, or the building’s owner about the situation or how long it would last. She said the closure was reducing parking, making it harder for buses to pass, and having a negative impact on the street.

Jack Mowbray, who runs the bakery Bakarí on the same street, said the one-way arrangement would make the area quieter and that passing trade was being affected. He said a planned pavement cafe during the Fleadh had to be relocated to another street because of the cordon.

The building is part of the stalled Tribeca project, a 12-acre site between St Anne’s Cathedral and Royal Avenue. Castlebrooke Investments has owned the site since 2016. The company received planning permission in 2020 for an office-led redevelopment and has recently submitted a pre-application notice for a revised scheme featuring 1,000 homes and two hotels.

Belfast City Council said it was aware of issues relating to the building and was liaising with the owner to determine appropriate next steps. The council added that the owner put the cordon in place to protect the public and that it was monitoring the situation.

The Department for Infrastructure said the council and its traffic management contractor had approached the department ahead of the Fleadh about an unsafe building. It said a northbound one-way closure was approved on safety grounds, with a diversion via North Street.

SDLP councillor Carl Whyte called for urgent action to address the disruption. He said the continued failure to redevelop the sites was damaging the city centre.

Green Party councillor Áine Groogan said she was concerned that almost a month after the barrier went up there had been no apparent progress. She noted the building is in a conservation area and cannot be demolished without consent. She said either the building needed to be fixed or evidence provided that it could not be.

Last year, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons told the Stormont assembly he was exploring options for a deliverable alternative to the stalled scheme. His department said it continues to engage with Castlebrooke Investments and the council, with discussions focused on securing a viable outcome.