According to the Department of Finance, of the 5,576 non-domestic properties within the Belfast city boundary, 1,914 were vacant on 31 October 2024.

Of the 17,142 non-domestic properties in the wider Belfast district council area, 3,612 were vacant on 31 December 2024.

Mr Orr said the city centre could benefit if some of its empty office units were turned into apartments.

“We’ve got loads of student buildings around us and office workers, so we have a good steady footfall,” he said.

“But it’s at the weekends you realise nobody lives in the city centre.

“If that was to change, everything in the city centre would feel a positive impact.”

Clare Guinness, chief executive of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, said this was a challenge “not just for Belfast but for towns and cities across the region and indeed the UK”.

“Given the lack of demand for office accommodation, we need to rethink and repurpose those buildings, perhaps to create homes where we know there is a demand and supply imbalance.”