Approvals were made for hotels at Callendar Street and Rosemary Street
Two more new hotels have been approved for Belfast city centre, by the council, despite questions being raised over one of the proposed hotels not having windows in some of its bedrooms.
Planning Committee, held at City Hall on Tuesday evening , unanimously approved two applications to convert office blocks in the heart of the city to hotels. The first was at the five storey Lindsay House, on Callender Street, behind Marks and Spencer. It involves the change of use from a fast food unit, restaurant, retail and office to a 76 bedroom hotel with associated restaurant and bar areas, as well as a lobby and reception area.
No extra crime or antisocial behaviour reported outside site of controversial Belfast homeless centre Works will include the demolition of all internal walls and partitions at ground floor level and the demolition of sections of building at the rear. It will involve the replacement of windows, reconfiguration and replacement of shopfronts, the creation of new openings for windows and the removal of rooflights. Lindsay House was built in 1960. The applicant is Victoria 1 LTD Suite, Lower Crescent, Belfast.
Planning officials at the council recommended the application for approval. All the statutory bodies offered no objections except NI Water, and there were no third party representations. Elected representatives heard from officials that there would be 12 bedrooms on the first and second floor which would “have no access to windows.
” The council report states: “It is noted a number of proposed bedrooms will have no windows owing to the relatively large depth of the building and existence of neighbouring buildings. Given the constraints of the building, the transient nature of occupation within a hotel and providing choice to potential customers, this arrangement is considered acceptable.
“In accordance with policies, the proposed development will support the growth of the tourism and hospitality sector in the city, help grow the evening and night-time economy and contribute to the supply of overnight visitor accommodation. ” Alliance Councillor Tara Brooks asked if the window-less rooms would be advertised, and a Planning official responded: “I can’t confirm how they will be advertised, because that will come much later in the process.
” The official added: “I would expect, having had conversations with the applicant, that they will be advertised potentially at a lower cost, and that it will be made clear that those rooms won’t have windows. ”Elected representatives also approved on Tuesday a new 30 bed hotel at 20 Rosemary Street, off Royal Avenue.
Works will involve the retention, conversion, refurbishment and change of use of the existing office building and two vacant retail units, including the extension of the fifth floor. The council received no objections from statutory consultees or third parties. The building is in the very heart of the city centre, close to the iconic Fresh Garbage shop. Some demolition wok will be involved..
The building itself has a distinct ‘L shape’ arrangement presenting as four storeys at its northern elevation to Rosemary Street with a stepped back fifth floor. The council planning report states: “The proposed development will respond positively to its local context and re-animate Rosemary Street through the retention and conversion of a vacant building in the city centre and the introduction of active ground floor frontage, ensuring vibrancy throughout the day in accordance with the requirements of policy.
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