Large-scale student developments given go-ahead in Belfast

The council’s planning committee also approved two hotel developments, following on from approvals for four other such schemes in the last nine months.

The two student developments which were approved were in the Great Patrick Street area, and are believed to amount to roughly 1,000 units between them.

Two in the Carrick Hill area were rejected.

Over the last few years, the University of Ulster has been expanding its campus in north Belfast, close to where the planned developments have all been situated.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, the council approved a 179-bedroom new hotel in Hope Street, and the extension of the Ten Square Hotel on the corner of Linenhall Street and Donegall Square South, to create an additional 46 rooms.

Committee chairman Matt Garrett said that this was another positive example of the benefits of planning powers having been transferred to local authorities earlier this year. These were among a total of 128 decisions made at the meeting.