Belfast City Council's Planning Committee has approved two new housing developments and a new Lidl supermarket for the west of the city.

A mixed-use development on lands near the Monagh By-pass will include two three-storey apartment buildings with 36 social housing units, along with seven business or light industrial units. The site is located adjacent and south-west of the by-pass and north-west of Black Ridge Gardens.

A second development of 29 dwellings, including six affordable homes, was approved for lands north of Barnfield Road and south of Mount Eagles Avenue. The development will include car parking, landscaping and communal amenity space.

The committee also approved the demolition of existing commercial units at Kingsway, Dunmurry, to make way for a new Lidl food store of 2,300 square metres. The site currently hosts a Tesco supermarket and five smaller retail units with front and rear parking. The approved changes include alterations to parking layout, access on Dunmurry Lane, landscaping and site works.

Additionally, approval was granted for alterations and refurbishment of the former City of Belfast School of Music building on Donegall Pass.

Councillor Ryan Murphy, chair of the Planning Committee, said the approvals provide 65 new homes and a store that will support jobs and choice for people, meeting the objectives of the council's Community Plan, the Belfast Agenda.