The final removal of hoarding from the pavement and road surrounding the ill-fated George Best Hotel has been welcomed.
Botanic SDLP councillor Gary McKeown, who has been asking the Stomont Department for Infrastructure for several months to clear the area on Bedford Street, said: "The hoarding that surrounded the base of the scaffolding at the historic Scottish Mutual Building for more than four years was not only an eyesore, but created an obstruction on one of our busiest streets.
"The site was completely overgrown with weeds and was an absolute mess, and sent out a really bad signal about our city centre. I'm delighted to secure the removal of all of the scaffolding and the hoarding at the site after working with the Department for Infrastructure for a number of months.
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"It has completely transformed the look of the area. I know there were some complications around ownership of the equipment, but thanks must go to officials for getting this sorted.
"Coming on the back of news that moves are under way to find a buyer for the site, I hope that this will ultimately secure the care and attention that this listed building needs. This is a landmark site at the heart of our city centre which deserves to be regenerated and given a new lease of life."
Renovation work to turn the Scottish Mutual Building into a multi-occupancy room hotel ceased in April 2020 when the hotel’s owners, Bedford Hotel Ltd, a subsidiary of Signature Living Hotels Ltd, was placed in administration.
Efforts to revitalise the project - formerly known as the George Best hotel - and complete its development were dealt a blow in May when a Belfast High Court judge ruled the property can be sold, leaving the bedrooms investors facing a loss of £4m.
It means that the administrators, Kroll, are now seeking a buyer for the unfinished development which is in a deteriorating state. A group representing former investors are planning to make another bid for the property.
More than 50 of the 57 bedroom investors, led by County Antrim businessman Stephen Kearney, have since come together to support Signature Living Hotels Ltd owner Lawrence Kenwright in a proposed recovery plan which will seek to return their investment with interest.
In September five youths were rescued from the roof of the disused building in Belfast city centre after scaling the scaffolding. In June a section of Bedford Street was cordoned off by police after chunks of red brick masonry fell from the building onto the pavement at the corner of Bedford Street and Donegall Square.
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