Development of almost 700 new apartments have been given the green light by Belfast City Council planners.

City Quays, Pilot Street, Tomb Street, and May Street are the sites that passed the council, with the largest development at the quays.

The Belfast Harbour application will see a 23-storey tower block that will have a total of 256 apartments.

The Pilot Street development In Sailortown of 69 apartments and townhouses will include affordable housing. The homes will be on two sites between the American Bar and the Dockers’ Club.

On Tomb Street a multi-storey car park, facing the Royal Mail building, will be demolished to make way for the development. The plans were by McAleer and Rushe.

Various low-rise buildings will also be demolished at the junction with Victoria Street on the May Street plans. Banbridge-based Vinder Capital with Endeavour Investments.

The Tomb Street and May Street schemes will have a combined total of 298 new apartments.