An application for a block of social housing close to Queen’s University that was previously refused over issues of noise and lack of space has now been accepted by Belfast City Council.
A plan by Holg Ltd for the partial demolition and redevelopment of existing buildings at 25-29 University Road and lands to the rear of Claremont Street for 15 social housing apartments was approved at the recent Belfast City Council Planning Committee (March 15), after further amendments were made to the application.
The works will commence at a fire burned site, formerly the Blaze and Glaze restaurant beside the Three Levels restaurant on University Road, opposite the Tesco Express.
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Last year the application was recommended for refusal for failing to provide a “quality residential environment for prospective residents due to inadequate and inappropriate public and private amenity space” and for its potentially “unacceptable adverse impact on proposed residents by way of noise and nuisance.” Elected representatives accepted the council officers recommendations and voted against the application.
After last year’s application the developers submitted further amended drawings including the reduction of one residential unit and the addition of a roof terrace on the third floor. A proposed travel plan will provide membership of a car club, membership of Belfast Bikes and travel cards for 3 years.
The council report states: “The amended drawings addressed the council’s concerns with regard to proposed amenity space, in accordance with the guidance.”
It adds: “The additional concerns in relation to overlooking and personal safety were not considered to be insurmountable, and the agent submitted further amended drawings to address these concerns.”
It states: “The provision of the roof terrace results in an additional 40 square metres of amenity space within the proposed development. The reduction in number of units also results in a reduction in the quantity of amenity space required. The overall amenity space provision is now 177 square metres, equating to 11.8 square metres per unit.”
Sinn Fein, the DUP, Alliance and the SDLP all voted to accept the application, while the Green Party and People Before Profit abstained.
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