The Belfast High Court has set May 8th as the date for hearing Dunloe Ewart's case against the Department of Social Development (DSD) over its decision to refuse it permission for the £150 million Cathedral Way shopping centre in Belfast city centre. Dunloe says its development will not detract from the seemingly rival proposal by Dutch developers Multi Development Corporation (MDC) for its £200 million scheme incorporating the area around Victoria Square.

If the High Court application by Dunloe succeeds, a full hearing is likely to take place later in May. Dunloe felt aggrieved at the Department's decision because it had been preparing its site for years - it has acquired some 85 per cent of the site fronting on to Royal Avenue, opposite the successful Castle Court Centre. By contrast, MDC had no substantial land-holding on its proposed site.