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Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
South Belfast to get new hotel and leisure development, while Ballymena gets bowling alley
Permission was granted for the 164-bedroom Andras House hotel, which will have a ground floor bar and restaurant at the junction of Botanic Avenue and Donegall Pass. The site for the new hotel is currently used as a surface level car park and retail and office unit. Andras House acquired the site at Botanic Avenue in 2023 for £1.7m and last year it confirmed it is to develop a 164-room hotel for YOTEL, a London-based hotel firm. The project is estimated to be worth £17m. The Planning Committee also approved an application for change of use from office space and storage at Adelaide Business Centre. It will become a leisure development with bowling alley, restaurant, indoor golf, children's soft play, VR zone and amusements, with parking at the site. MK5 Ltd first unveiled plans for the leisure complex in 2022 after buying the Adelaide Business Centre on Apollo Road in Belfast for £1.35m. MK5 is owned by Patrick Simpson, the developer behind Londonderry's Brunswick Moviebowl leisure complex. Planning documents show that the estimated investment in the new project, in addition to the £1.35m to acquire the site, will be around £3m, with the businesses expected to create about 30 jobs. Permission was also given for the erection of a drive through café at lands near Lidl supermarket and Olympia Leisure Centre on the Boucher Road. Other applications approved were a council application for street art on the façade of the former Belfast Telegraph building in Royal Avenue at Donegall Street. Councillor Ryan Murphy, Chair of Belfast City Council's Planning Committee, said: 'It's further good news for tourists and visitors to Belfast to have another major hotel development approved, this time — in the Botanic area. 'This new hotel will be close to shops, bars and restaurants and other local visitor attractions like Botanic Gardens and the Ulster Museum. 'It's also walking distance to the city centre and close to Botanic station which provides public transport links to the wider city and beyond including Lanyon Place and St George's Market and Titanic Quarter and SSE Arena and Titanic Belfast, among other great attractions. 'The Planning Committee also approved a new leisure complex on the Apollo Road, Boucher, with bowling alley, soft children's play area and indoor golf which is fantastic news for residents and families in the city.' Meanwhile, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has granted planning permission for a new bowling alley at a cinema complex in Ballymena. A proposal by applicant Carngore Ltd of Thomas Street, Ballymena, for renovations and an extension to the IMC Cinema to accommodate a 12-lane bowling alley and amusement centre has been given the go-ahead. A planning report noted the premises at St Patrick's Link Road are located just outside Ballymena in 'an established leisure area' adjacent to the Seven Towers Leisure Centre. The report said: 'The proposal is to change the use of two existing cinema rooms to provide an amusement area, further change of the existing lobby area and small extension to provide a bowling alley. 'Given the established leisure nature of the site and distance from any residential development, it is considered that there will be no impact on residential amenity or human health and well-being." The report stated that NI Water has recommended refusal. However, there is no proposed change to the existing water and sewerage facilities. 'Given the extensive parking on-site and adjacent at Seven Towers Leisure Centre, there is no need for any additional parking or traffic assessments.' There is no amendment to the access, it was noted.
North Wales Live
05-08-2025
- North Wales Live
Application to continue use of 'well-established' Abersoch caravan site turned down
A '"well established" Abersoch touring caravan and camping site has been refused certification over its continued use. Penrhyn Camping Site at Bwlchtocyn is in an idyllic spot on the Llŷn Peninsula, close to Porth Ceiriad, a popular surfers' beach, and the Wales Coast Path. Cyngor Gwynedd has rejected an application for a Lawful Development Certificate for the continuation of the use of land as a touring caravan and camping site. The applicant had argued the site had been used for a continuous and uninterrupted period of ten years or more, which would have allowed for a Lawful Development Certificate to be issued. However, the council said evidence "did not undisputedly prove a continuous use of the entire site for the specified time period". Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter The application for the certificate was made by Carol Correia-Martins in March. It was rejected by planners, on Friday (August 1). The submission stated the "well established" site had been "continuously operating since 2007". It added: "The land has been used solely for caravan and camping purposes. "No planning permission is in place, however, a support document has been submitted as part of this application for a certificate of lawfulness." It had presented "supporting evidence" in relation to use of land for the siting of 22 touring caravans between March 1 and October 31. It had also included visitor reviews, utility bills, orders and receipts for the site, as well as details of use from 2007 to 2014, when it was part of the 'Caravan Club' holiday scheme and then subject to a planning exemption certificate. Documents had noted in the 1990s, that the land had been briefly used as a caravan site. It had also reverted to its original use for sheep grazing for a time. In 2006, the applicants had sought permission for a change of use of land to accommodate three touring caravans for 28 days, but this had been refused. In 2023, the applicants had also completed development of 22 hard standing fully-serviced pitches. The planning documents noted: "The demand for touring pitches had increased dramatically in recent years, in particular since Penrhyn Camping Site parted with the Caravan Club in 2014. "Over the past decade, the applicants have observed a decline in enquiries regarding tent pitches, as a growing number of customers are expressing a preference for spaces and facilities designed for motorhomes and caravan pitches. "Today, Penrhyn Camping Site features three shower rooms, a W/C, and a laundry room. The site is accessible through a private road situated outside the main road network." A Cyngor Gwynedd spokesperson said: 'The application for a Certificate of Lawful Use was not determined by the Planning Committee as it does not fall within the definition of a Planning Application within the Scheme of Delegation of the Council's Constitution. "Applications for a Certificate of Lawful Use is a procedure under Section 10 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 that enables anyone who wishes to do so to apply to the Local Planning Authority to determine whether a proposed use or operation, or an existing operational development or an existing use of land or any other matter constituting a failure to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted, is lawful, and if so, be granted a certificate to that effect. 'In this case the application was for the continuation of the use of land as a touring caravan and camping site having been used for a continuous and uninterrupted period of 10 years or more without the benefit of planning permission. "The application was refused as the evidence as submitted does not undisputedly prove a continuous use of the entire site for the specified time period. 'The applicant has an opportunity to appeal the decision, or resubmit the application with further evidence; and the Local Planning Authority can consider taking Enforcement action following the refusal of the Certificate of Lawful Use application."
The Herald Scotland
26-06-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Dualchas Architect 'Soviet-era bunker' house on Skye wins top award
But now architects are extending an olive branch to their detractors after a much-criticised home on the Isle of Skye won a top award for design. The 'modest' house at Torrin, designed by Dualchas Architect, is made from three interlocking larch-clad blocks which sit above the ground on steel posts. Judges praised the view over the mountains (Image: Dualchas Architect) The main house has two bedrooms, with further accommodation in a separate building which helps frame the entrance and create shelter from the prevailing wind. It was universally condemned by councillors during a Planning Committee back in 2018, with the design only being approved after their rejection of the proposal was overturned by a Scottish Government Reporter on appeal. Dualchas Architect director Neil Stephen: 'We always try and do design that is respectful of context and place and we take that responsibility very seriously.
Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Council agrees to explore ban on purpose-built student accommodation
Options for bringing in a ban on the development of new student accommodation units In Edinburgh are set to be brought before councillors later this year. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... City officers have been asked to explore options for a ban on controversial purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) projects, and present them to the city's Planning Committee in September for a decision. A majority of councillors backed the motion calling for a ban to be explored, after it was proposed by SNP councillor Danny Aston. But 10 opposed it, with one saying a ban would be 'premature'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad SNP councillor Danny Aston at Jock's Lodge, where new student accommodation is due to be built. | supplied At the meeting, Cllr Aston said: 'It seems to me that developers aren't taking the changing circumstances into account. 'My concern is that if the council doesn't step in as the state body responsible as the planning authority to rein in the market here, our city may be left disfigured by white elephant PBSA developments that no-one wants.' PBSA projects often draw significant protest from the communities they are built in. One recent development in Jock's Lodge, which went on to be approved, drew over 1,000 public objections. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Opponents say that PBSA projects add strain to, and harm the character of, local communities, as well as taking up development space for housing for the wider public. Additionally, the rents in the developments are often higher than students can find on the private residential market, with rooms in shared flats within Edinburgh PBSA developments often starting at £800 or £900 per month. But PBSA developments are rarely pushed back by councillors. They are usually compliant with planning regulations, which means there is often no legitimate reason for them to be rejected. Glasgow City Council had its own moratorium on PBSA developments between 2019 and 2021, with new projects still effectively banned in parts of the city by planning regulations. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Conservative councillor Joanna Mowat filed an amendment that said a ban should not be implemented now. Instead, it said that any decision on restricting student housing should be made as a part of creating the city's new Local Development Plan, which must be implemented by May 2026. She told the council on Thursday: 'The main point of this is that we are going through a process to look at student housing, examining those numbers. And I think that whilst that is being undertaken, it's premature to ask for a moratorium.' 'The reality is we are supposed to have this information later this year, and I think asking planners to do another report into this, at this point, when they're undertaking that work for the new Local Development Plan is overburdening them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I think the points Cllr Aston makes are good ones, but I just want to try and get what we need to do done rather than having extraneous reports that I think will be difficult to accomplish.' Councillors voted for Cllr Aston's motion over Cllr Mowat's amendment by 46 to 10, with the Conservative group voting against the motion.
Edinburgh Reporter
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
New student housing ban possible
Options for bringing in a ban on the development of new student accommodation units In Edinburgh are set to be brought before councillors later this year City officers have been asked to explore options for a ban on controversial purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) projects, and present them to the city's Planning Committee in September for a decision. A majority of councillors backed the motion calling for a ban to be explored, which was proposed by SNP councillor Danny Aston. But 10 opposed it, with one saying a ban would be 'premature'. At the meeting, Cllr Aston said: 'It seems to me that developers aren't taking the changing circumstances into account. 'My concern is that if the council doesn't step in as the state body responsible as the planning authority to rein in the market here, our city may be left disfigured by white elephant PBSA developments that no-one wants.' PBSA projects often draw significant protest from the communities they are built in. One recent development in Jock's Lodge, which went on to be approved, drew over 1,000 public objections. Opponents say that PBSA projects add strain to, and harm the character of, local communities, as well as taking up development space for housing for the wider public. Additionally, the rents in the developments are often higher than students can find on the private residential market, with rooms in shared flats within Edinburgh PBSA developments often starting at £800 or £900 per month. But PBSA developments are rarely pushed back by councillors. They are usually compliant with planning regulations, which means there is often no legitimate reason for them to be rejected. Glasgow City Council had its own moratorium on PBSA developments between 2019 and 2021, with new projects still effectively banned in parts of the city by planning regulations. Conservative councillor Joanna Mowat filed an amendment that said a ban should not be implemented now. Instead, it says that any decision on restricting student housing should be made as a part of creating the city's new Local Development Plan, which must be implemented by May 2026. She told the council on Thursday: 'The main point of this is that we are going through a process to look at student housing, examining those numbers. And I think that whilst that is being undertaken, it's premature to ask for a moratorium.' 'The reality is we are supposed to have this information later this year, and I think asking planners to do another report into this, at this point, when they're undertaking that work for the new Local Development Plan is overburdening them. 'I think the points Cllr Aston makes are good ones, but I just want to try and get what we need to do done rather than having extraneous reports that I think will be difficult to accomplish.' Councillors voted for Cllr Aston's motion over Cllr Mowat's amendment by 46 to 10, with the Conservative group voting against the motion. By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
