'Carefully developed to respect the setting of nearby heritage assets': Major plans lodged to convert Belfast office building into apartments and restaurants
A mixed-use redevelopment of 9 Lanyon Place would add homes, shops, restaurants, leisure facilities and offices as part of plans to revitalise a key city centre gateway
A prominent Belfast city centre office building could be transformed into a mixed-use development featuring 105 apartments, alongside shops, restaurants, leisure facilities and offices, under newly submitted planning proposals.
Lanyon Place Ltd, supported by Gravis Planning, has lodged an application with Belfast City Council seeking permission for the change of use and extension of 9 Lanyon Place.
The seven-storey building occupies a high-profile corner site at the junction of East Bridge Street, Oxford Street and Lanyon Place.
Under the proposals, the first to fourth floors would remain in office use, while the ground floor would be reconfigured to create a more active street frontage, incorporating a residents' gym and juice bar, three retail units, and a restaurant and bar.
A new two-storey extension would also be added, bringing the total residential provision to 105 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across the upper levels of the building.
Planning documents say the scheme is intended to breathe new life into the existing building while increasing the number of people living in Belfast city centre.
A statement accompanying the application said: "The development represents the sustainable re-use and intensification of a previously developed city centre site and makes efficient use of existing buildings, infrastructure and public transport networks.
"The proposal will support the continued regeneration of the Lanyon Place area, contribute towards increasing the city centre residential population and create a vibrant mixed-use environment capable of supporting local businesses, services and amenities throughout the day and evening."
The applicants said the design had evolved in response to the site's prominent location and surrounding built environment.
"The design of the proposal has evolved in response to the opportunities and constraints of the site and its surrounding context," the statement added.
"The scheme has been carefully developed to respect the setting of nearby heritage assets, respond positively to the established townscape and building heights of the area and enhance the role of the site as a gateway location on the eastern approach to Belfast city centre."
The application will now be considered by Belfast City Council's planning service.