Planners to overrule NI Water on bid to turn offices into 30-bed hotel: Move could worsen pollution in Belfast Lough, says body
A bid to turn Belfast city centre offices into a 30-bed hotel could worsen pollution in the city’s lough, NI Water has said – but planners are to give it a green light anyway.
Disused offices on Rosemary Street in the heart of the capital’s shopping district are to become a hotel with a ground floor bar and restaurant under plans filed by a developer.
But NI Water wants them blocked, stating the city’s sewer system would struggle to handle the hotel.
If it’s built, says the water body, overloaded sewers could spill into other properties or damage the environment.
“This part of Belfast catchment is constrained by lengths of downstream sewer operating above capacity,” states NI Water, in an analysis of the plans, adding that studies have shows around 90% of bacteria in Belfast Lough and 50% of nitrogen has been traced to problems with the sewer system and drainage.
“The addition of flows from this development will contribute to the discharge from [the sewer system]. The spills from these unsatisfactory intermittent discharges are known to be a contributing factor to the issues in Belfast Lough.”
However planners on Belfast City Council argue there is enough space for the hotel.
In what has become a regular move for council planners, they state that years ago several large-scale projects were okayed by NI Water, but never built. Even though the water body now says the sewer system is overloaded, planners argue those unbuilt schemes count as spare capacity, meaning it’s fine to green-light the hotel.
They also say NI Water hasn’t “provided robust evidence” about the specific impact the hotel will have, stating that the body has only outlined “broad concerns”.
The hotel is one of 14 projects up for discussion at a meeting tonight that NI Water wants stopped, but on which planners are to overrule the body using the spare capacity argument.
The plan has been filed by a developer called Rosemary Street Ltd, and represented by planning consultants Turleys.
A design statement created by architects Bradley McClure says changes to the exterior of the property will “enhance the building’s functionality and aesthetic, while maintaining its architectural integrity and contributing positively to the surrounding urban environment”.
Add the architects: “The site is situated on Rosemary Street just off Royal Avenue and is within the city’s commercial core. The proposal will benefit from excellent transport links and proximity to key visitor attractions, making it an ideal location for a hotel. The development will provide high quality accommodation to meet growing demand, supporting Belfast’s tourism and business sectors.
Stating the hotel will “contribute to the vibrancy of the city centre”, the statements says the development “prioritises sustainable design, improved public realm interaction, and the sensitive adaptation of the existing building to ensure its long-term viability and positive impact on the streetscape”.
They also state that the location in Belfast’s shopping core “benefits from high footfall and proximity to key attractions, making it ideal for hotel guests” while also having excellent public transport links, and has nearby buildings of “historical and architectural significance” such as the oldest place of worship in the city, First Presbyterian Church, as well as the Provincial Masonic Hall and Gordon House.