The Connswater Shopping opened in Belfast way back in 1983 but for the past year it has been left abandoned and it has since been plagued by anti-social behaviour10:38, 28 May 2026A once beloved and bustling shopping centre in east Belfast now lies abandoned — and it has been plagued by anti-social behaviour in recent weeks.‌The Connswater Shopping Centre had a 40-year run before it shut down in March of last year on just two weeks’ notice. This was after issues like declining footfall and high vacancy rates plunged it into receivership.‌It has now become an attraction for urban explorers who often discover smashed windows and bricks lining the former car park while they capture footage of the gutted shopping centre with its empty food court and sealed off shops.‌Jamie Robinson, who explores forgotten locations on his YouTube channel, visited the “eerie remains” where he reported seeing “empty shopfronts and decaying corridors to signs of a place once filled with life”.And speaking on his vlog, he said: “It is mental to think that a big shopping centre like this can just go abandoned, like I do find that proper strange. What’s crazy is this would have been a thriving shopping centre back in its day.”‌Other explorers have come all the way from America to capture footage inside the huge 162,000 square foot complex with 52 units including the former Boots and Carphone Warehouse.It has now been closed for over one year and anti-social behaviour, including criminal damage, has been a big issue — with four youngsters being detained by police last month.On April 15, at 7.25pm, a 14-year-old girl was detained after a number of youngsters entered the derelict site. The next day, three more young people were detained.‌Police warned youngsters against anti-social behaviour and they continue to work with locals to find solutions. They also encouraged parents to speak to their children about the dangers of such behaviour.PSNI Neighbourhood Inspector Dawson said: “We are aware of ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour, including criminal damage at the derelict premises and continue to engage with residents and community representatives. Derelict buildings by their very nature can be unsafe and we do not want to see anyone being injured as a result of being inside.‌“Young people who choose to engage in anti-social behaviour must understand it is unacceptable and must stop. People have a right to live in peace and to feel safe in their communities. Officers continue to work alongside partner agencies, local representatives and the community to find collaborative and proactive solutions to address the problem.“Parents and guardians must speak to their young people about where they are and who they are with and also warn them of the dangers of getting involved in behaviour which could result in injuring themselves, others, or ultimately, a criminal record.”The front windows of the shopping centre have been smashed up and boarded over and Councillor Ruth Brooks has also spoken about the ongoing problem.‌She said: “There is fencing around the site, but that can't be sustainable in the long-term, and certainly what people don't want to see is the continued decline of a building just left to rot.“We're already dealing with a lot of dereliction and dilapidation on the Newtownards Road and we're working through some of the challenges that building control or council have in dealing with those. So we certainly don't want to see this continued.”‌After the centre became under the control of insolvency practitioners, locals spoke to various media outlets about how they were feeling.Winston Grayson told BBC News NI: “It’s really good, it will be a big miss.”Barry Macaulay meanwhile, the CEO of Arts Care, an arts and health charity who were based in the shopping centre for 18 months before the closure, spoke to BelfastLive about how they were “still reeling” from the sudden closure.‌He said the charity spent £40,000 upgrading their unit and they hoped to stay there for at least three years.Barry said: “After spending all that money, with two weeks' notice, we were told to get out and lost every penny of that. We're a small charity, we can't afford to throw £40,000 away. That really angers me.”He later added: “While we took a hit financially, we've regrouped. We weren't going to let this destroy our organisation. We've been able to re-establish ourselves, but it was a traumatic time, and we're still reeling from it.”Article continues belowAs of yet, no decisions have been made about the future of the Connswater site, but some ideas have included housing and a mixed-use retail site.Giving her take, councillor Ruth said: “The site's closure has opened a conversation on how retail in the area has changed. You need to get the right balance and I think from coronavirus when we were seeing lots of offices being built, the conversation around what the workforce needs and what retail needs is ongoing, and we're looking at the wider area.“There's also a conversation around the need for housing in the area as well. I think there are a number of options being looked at, but whatever is agreed, it needs to be futureproof.”