A public consultation is to be held on the future of a contentious bonfire site at a North Belfast interface.
The bonfire at Adam Street in the loyalist Tigers Bay area became the focus of political and community tensions last summer.
Stormont’s Department for Communities is to launch a consultation on the way forward for the disused site, according to documents seen by Belfast Live.
Read more:Building work under way on contentious North Belfast interface bonfire
It emerges as another Stormont department has handed over its part of responsibility for the land to Invest NI.
The Department for Infrastructure secured an “abandonment order” for Adam Street earlier this year, with ownership as a result reverting to the business promotion body.
The neighbouring North City Business Centre has plans to redevelop the site with extra enterprise accommodation, according to documents.
But community representatives have called for the site to be used for new social housing.
Building work is under way on a new bonfire on the site ahead of the Eleventh Night next month.
Last year, a High Court bid by two Stormont ministers to compel police to help remove the bonfire failed after officers warned it would create a “risk to life”.
The legal action by Sinn Féin Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey and then SDLP Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon cost their departments more than £22,500.
A judge in September ruled the pyre had been used by some loyalists to “intimidate and terrorise” residents in the New Lodge by hitting golf balls, throwing bricks and singing sectarian songs.
In January, loyalist activist Jamie Bryson pursued judicial review proceedings against the ministers, contending that they should have secured the approval of the wider Stormont Executive before taking court action.
A judge dismissed his challenge on the basis that the issue was now academic.
An appeal is expected to be heard next week.
DUP councillor Dean McCullough, who has been involved in efforts to regenerate the Adam Street site, welcomed plans for a public consultation.
He said they have been pressing Stormont to make progress since last year and expected an “imminent” launch of the consultation.
The councillor told Belfast Live: “Our position has been and remains that we want to see a regeneration of the Adam Street site.
“But we want to see a regeneration with the consent of the Tigers Bay community, and regeneration that complements the Tigers Bay community.
“So it is welcome I suppose in a sense that the department is finally starting to listen to the community and take seriously the demands from the community for that regeneration.”
Mr McCullough said the “preferred position is that we want to see social housing there” because there is a “growing need”.
He said he understands the consultation will be part of a “wider package” of plans to regenerate the area.
He added: “This process has to be co-designed with the community and it has to be community-led.”
The Department for Communities has been approached for comment.
Last year nationalist politicians had called for the removal of the Adam Street bonfire, saying homes in the neighbouring New Lodge had come under attack.
But unionist politicians rejected this, insisting it was an expression of culture and accusing nationalist leaders of raising tensions.
The bonfire passed off without major incident on the Eleventh Night last year.
However, a tricolour was placed on the pyre before it was set alight and at one point a laser was shone from the New Lodge area towards the crowd.
There was also a significant police presence and fire crews had to cool the back of a neighbouring building.
Mr McCullough said the bonfire has “overwhelming support of the Tigers Bay community” and expressed support for “legitimate cultural expression”.
He urged political opponents not to “heighten tensions” ahead of the Eleventh Night this year.
In a statement an Invest NI spokeswoman said: “Invest NI owns a building located at Duncairn Gardens in North Belfast.
“It also owns an area of ground outside the perimeter wall of the building – Adam Street.
“Until March 2022 the Department for Infrastructure had legal responsibility for Adam Street. Following the abandonment by the Department for Infrastructure, Invest NI has now assumed responsibility for the road.
“Invest NI is liaising closely with relevant parties to examine ways in which activity at the site can be managed to minimise disruption to the surrounding area.”
Read more:Building work under way on contentious North Belfast interface bonfire
Read more:PSNI confirms legal bill from Stormont ministers’ failed court action over North Belfast bonfire
For the latest politics news straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
