Developer says they hope it will be a catalyst in “transformation of the Shaftesbury Square area”
A new hotel in the Shaftesbury Square area of Botanic has been given the green light.
Permission was granted by the Belfast City Council Planning Committee for a 164 bedroom hotel by applicant Andras House. A bar and restaurant will be on the ground floor of the building, which will be at the junction of Botanic Avenue and Donegall Pass.
The site address is 2-10 Botanic Avenue. It is currently used as a surface level car park and three storey office unit.
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At the August meeting of the Planning Council at City Hall, held on Tuesday (August 12), elected representatives unanimously approved the application. The building has proposed heights of eight storeys at Donegall Pass, reducing to five storeys at Botanic Avenue and four storeys at Ratcliffe Street. There will be associated works including the demolition of the existing building.
Council planning officers recommended the application for approval. There were no objections from any of the statutory consultees, except for Northern Ireland Water, who recommended refusal due to sewage network capacity issues. Seven third party representations were received in support of the application.
The council planning officer wrote in a report on the application: “The principle of hotel use is considered acceptable given the accessible city centre location and creation of a tourist facility providing overnight accommodation to support the city centre economy.
“The height, scale and form of the proposed building are in keeping with the character and context of the surrounding area. The character and appearance of the surrounding area will be enhanced with the development of the vacant plot that occupies a prominent position on a main thoroughfare junction.
“The proposal does not include dedicated parking for the hotel; this is considered to be acceptable having regard to the highly sustainable city centre location. A travel plan has also been provided in support of the application, which promotes alternatives to the private car.”
The report states the construction phase will provide 220 direct jobs and 154 indirect jobs. Once operational, the hotel is expected to create 36 permanent jobs.
A representative for the applicant said at the Planning Committee meeting: “We’ve had a positive and extensive engagement with the local community, and it is great to see that community support has been set out in the letters.
“Andras House is an award winning developer, with a proven track record of delivering significant developments in Belfast City Centre. Their existing properties include the Holiday Inn, the Ibis and the Hampton.”
He added: “The application represents a significant investment in the city, revitalising a long term vacant and derelict site, to create a high quality new building, delivering quality tourism provision, which we hope will be a catalyst in the ambitions for a wider development and transformation of the Shaftesbury Square area.”
Alliance Councillor Eric Hanvey said at the meeting: “I am a bit surprised to hear there wouldn’t be any parking. One would expect, even though it is in the City Centre, that quite a lot of people will arrive in cars. I am curious as to where they are meant to go.”
A council officer replied: “There is a very robust travel plan submitted, in terms of how that will be developed. The hotel itself will advertise if there is no parking, and will push people towards public transport, which is the main thrust of the planning policies.”
Councillor Hanvey said: “I can see how that works in residential, and I think this is a great idea generally. But for a hotel, people are going to arrive in cars, it is just a fact of life.”
The council officer said: “This is within the City Centre boundary, and it is not uncommon. Recent approvals have been for example, the Bedford Street Hotel, the hotel at the old Deane’s building, they have zero parking. It is common practice now to work towards those Green Travel Measures, to try and reduce car use in the City Centre.”
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