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Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Victorian house in south Belfast saved from being turned into apartments after campaign victory
A CGI image of the failed development plan at Annadale Avenue A decision made at the Belfast City Council Planning Committee has ended the long running saga of an application for the proposed demolition of the former Bees Knees Nursery at 18 Annadale Avenue, BT7, by Cregagh Developments Ltd, of Grennan Road, Newry. The controversial application involved the demolition of the existing Victorian building for the construction of a residential development consisting of 14 units. That would have involved nine apartments within a three-storey building, and five two storey terraced dwellings, along with associated landscaping and car parking. The applicant submitted viability information regarding various potential options to retain and convert the existing building to other uses, making the case that retention of the existing building was not feasible. Of six options, the applicant said the only viable one was nine apartments and five townhouses. The application had been in the system for over a year and a half, with committee members attending a site visit to the location in March 2024. Some 21 third party objections were made to the council, including one from the MP for South Belfast and Mid Down, Claire Hanna, one from the SDLP MLA for South Belfast, Matthew O'Toole, and one from the Belfast Civic Trust, a charity promoting good architecture in Belfast. There was also an objection from Green Councillor for Lisnasharragh Brian Smyth and two objections from Alliance MLA for South Belfast Paula Bradshaw. Objectors said the demolition of the existing building would have negatively impacted on the Victorian character of the area, would have been a great historical and cultural loss, and would have set a 'sustainable precedent' for the area. They said the residential amenity would have been affected by loss of light and overlooking, arguing the proposed design was overbearing, with a lack of architectural detail. They added there was insufficient parking provision, no disabled spaces, with access to the road being too narrow. Objectors objected to the planned removal of a cherry tree, said local biodiversity would be badly affected, and added that the development would devalue nearby properties. The Stormont Department for Infrastructure Rivers Division and NI Water objected to the proposals. Despite this, council planning officers recommended the plan for approval, with a list of conditions. A previous officer report on the application stated: 'It is a sustainable location with good access to shops, jobs, services, amenities and public transport. The site is considered a suitable location for housing; the proposal would make effective use of previously developed land and is of an appropriate density. 'No affordable housing is provided due to viability. The applicant has submitted a viability assessment which has been independently appraised, which concludes that the proposal is unviable with the inclusion of any affordable housing provision or commuted sum. 'The design, height, scale and massing of the proposed buildings are considered in keeping with the surrounding character and not considered to impact the surrounding listed buildings.' At the August meeting of the council's Planning Committee held this week, the application went to a vote, with only six elected members supporting the application, all from the DUP, while 12 elected members, from Alliance, the SDLP and Sinn Féin, voted against the application. A representative for local residents said at the meeting: 'We are quite concerned about the imposing nature of this build, and how close it is to our border. The southwest facade is quite overbearing, and we are even worried about our mature shrubs. 'It would be so sad to see this beautiful old building demolished. The incredible Victorian gardens at the back, with sweetpea and apple trees, would be turned into a parking lot.' A CGI image of the failed development plan at Annadale Avenue Belfast History Explained: Who was Mary Ann McCracken? An agent for the developer told the committee: 'Extensive investigations demonstrated that retention was not viable. Additional testing was then documented at the request of the committee, which was also done, and all options were independently verified to be unviable. 'While retention was not viable, the applicants committed to the sustainability principle to salvage materials such as red brick, roof tiles and stone sills for reuse in the proposed development. But importantly, the existing building is not listed, and is not located in the conservation area. A previous proposal for demolition and redevelopment for 14 apartments was granted in 2009.' Alliance Party councillor Tara Brooks said: 'I have sympathy for the applicant, and the situation they find themselves in, but I propose we refuse planning. It does not sit right with me to vote to have this building demolished. 'I understand that it is not listed, and the applicant can go ahead and demolish it anyway, but I cannot in all conscience vote to permit its demolition.' DUP councillor Dean McCullough said: 'The report is pretty clear. We all have aspirational ideas about what we want, but viability is viability. I think this applicant has gone out of their way to do everything they can, within a framework, to make this viable. 'I don't know what else they can do, they have come to this committee time and time again, with amendment after amendment, and are now probably running effectively at a loss.' He said the application was 'competent and sound' and would 'benefit the city'. The committee gave planning officers delegated authority to finalise the precise refusal reasons. 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Belfast Telegraph
10-07-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
‘It's tone deaf and lacks foresight': Plan to turn Belfast hotel into care home facing growing opposition
At the most recent meeting of the Belfast City Council Planning Committee, councillors deferred the controversial application for a site examination. The plan is for change of use from hotel, conference centre and offices to a 97-bed care home and 1,559sqm diagnostic medical facility, including associated access, car parking, landscaping and open space works. The site is at the Stormont Hotel, 587 Upper Newtownards Road and adjacent properties at Castleview Road, Summerhill Parade, and Summerhill Park. The applicant's name is not given on the Planning Portal, but they are represented by the planning consultant Turley. The hotel is owned by the Hastings group and the application last year was reported as being from the firm Summerhill Retirement Developments. The Planning Portal has 15 objections dating as far back as May 2024, all from neighbouring residents. Concerns include increased traffic use, car parking, noise pollution, the potential to create flooding and sewage problems and to lower property values. One opponent states that 'if the retirement village development were to proceed, I see no reason why this cannot be within the existing hotel/car park footprint and sympathetic to the existing properties in the area'. 'The loss of 16 affordable houses in a desirable location will not only reduce housing stock for the wider demographic, including much sought-after properties for first-time buyers, but also change the community in the area.' 14 cars damaged in Lisburn during overnight arson attack Another said the area 'has rejuvenated itself and remains a popular area for young families and professionals on an arterial route into the city. I am of the opinion that creating a large retirement housing complex and 100-plus-bed care home is the opposite of what this area needs in terms of development'. 'Several over-55s housing sites have already been built in the past two years within a one- to two-mile radius of the proposed development, such as the new large, sheltered housing built on the former Park Avenue hotel site, which is, of course, great for our ageing demographic. 'The proposed development is not what the area nor province needs. Converting a hotel into a care home is not investing in our future and not forward thinking. Tourism is important for the NI economy; converting a hotel into a nursing home is tone deaf and lacks foresight.'
Belfast Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
South Belfast house with ‘original historic character' set for listed status
At the May meeting of the Belfast City Council Planning Committee, elected representatives supported the listing of 19 Wellington Park, Belfast, BT9. A listed building has special architectural or historic interest. Stormont's Department of Communities is responsible for listing such buildings, but all prospective lists are put through the council for noting before going to consultation. The second survey of all of Northern Ireland's building stock is currently under way, to update and improve on the first list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, which began in 1974. This second survey in Belfast was due to be completed in 2017 but is ongoing. Should the Department for Communities decide to list a property or structure, this places certain responsibilities on the owner. For example, a listed building has to be maintained in a way appropriate to its character and cannot be altered or demolished without prior approval. Nineteen Wellington Park is a two-storey, double-fronted Victorian villa in a 'domestic gothic revival' style, constructed in 1889/90 as one of a pair with number 21 by the builder Andrew Dempster Gibson. The architect is unknown. The council document on the proposal states: 'Externally it retains much of its original historic character such as the double-height canted bays, decorative brickwork and historic windows as well as internally in the elaborate plaster cornicing, plaster swags and tails, woodwork and stained glass. The plan form of the house is largely intact.' Numbers 19 and 21 Wellington Park were purchased from Gibson by Samuel Hogg, a Shankill Road grocer who was resident at 19 from 1894. Hogg was a relative of the celebrated photographer, Alexander Robert Hogg, whose collection of 5,500 glass plate negatives and lantern slides dating from the early 20th century are held by the Ulster Museum. These include an image of Samuel Hogg's premises on the Shankill Road called The People's Tea and Coffee Warehouse. Listed buildings in Northern Ireland are divided into four categories. Grade A Special buildings are of national importance including both outstanding grand buildings and the fine, little-altered examples of important style or date. Grade B+ Special buildings are those that might have merited A status but were reduced over detracting features such as impurities of design, or lower quality additions or alterations. Grade B1 and B2 Special buildings refer to those of more local importance or displaying good examples of period style. Degrees of alteration or imperfection are acceptable in this category. The proposed listing status for 19 Wellington Park is B1.
Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
House in Malone area of south Belfast to get listed status
At the May meeting of the Belfast City Council Planning Committee, elected representatives supported the listing of 19 Wellington Park, Belfast, BT9. A listed building has special architectural or historic interest. Stormont's Department of Communities is responsible for listing such buildings, but all prospective lists are put through the council for noting before going to consultation. The second survey of all of Northern Ireland's building stock is currently under way, to update and improve on the first list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, which began in 1974. This second survey in Belfast was due to be completed in 2017 but is ongoing. Should the Department for Communities decide to list a property or structure, this places certain responsibilities on the owner. For example, a listed building has to be maintained in a way appropriate to its character and cannot be altered or demolished without prior approval. Nineteen Wellington Park is a two-storey, double-fronted Victorian villa in a 'domestic gothic revival' style, constructed in 1889/90 as one of a pair with number 21 by the builder Andrew Dempster Gibson. The architect is unknown. The council document on the proposal states: 'Externally it retains much of its original historic character such as the double-height canted bays, decorative brickwork and historic windows as well as internally in the elaborate plaster cornicing, plaster swags and tails, woodwork and stained glass. The plan form of the house is largely intact.' Numbers 19 and 21 Wellington Park were purchased from Gibson by Samuel Hogg, a Shankill Road grocer who was resident at 19 from 1894. Hogg was a relative of the celebrated photographer, Alexander Robert Hogg, whose collection of 5,500 glass plate negatives and lantern slides dating from the early 20th century are held by the Ulster Museum. These include an image of Samuel Hogg's premises on the Shankill Road called The People's Tea and Coffee Warehouse. Listed buildings in Northern Ireland are divided into four categories. Grade A Special buildings are of national importance including both outstanding grand buildings and the fine, little-altered examples of important style or date. Grade B+ Special buildings are those that might have merited A status but were reduced over detracting features such as impurities of design, or lower quality additions or alterations. Grade B1 and B2 Special buildings refer to those of more local importance or displaying good examples of period style. Degrees of alteration or imperfection are acceptable in this category. The proposed listing status for 19 Wellington Park is B1.
