An application to transform two former restaurants/takeaways on the Dublin Road to make room for a new 10-storey apartment block has been given the green light by Belfast City Council.
No. 57 to 63 Dublin Road were firmly occupied by Emerald City Chinese takeaway and Kitch Restaurant and will be demolished in the coming months to begin work on a new £14 million residential complex.
John Smyth’s Estates Ltd submitted an application to demolish the existing buildings and to construct a 10-storey mixed-use development comprising a cafe on the ground floor and 85 serviced apartments in April 2020 which was approved in March 2021.
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The planning documents read: "The proposed development has been prepared by Belfast architectural firm Like Architects and seeks the demolition of the existing buildings on-site and erection of a 10-storey building comprising a café at ground floor and 85 apartments.
"The apartments will provide a mix of 1 and 2-bed accommodation. Communal bin and cycle storage for the residents will be provided at ground floor level with access via the main entrance foyer or via the service access onto Ventry Street to the rear.
"There is also a residents’ gym at first floor level and a rooftop garden.
"The apartments will be managed by a serviced apartment operator,providing both short and long-term occupancy options."
In September 2022, the development was acquired by property development start-up Z Property Group.
The planning documents also said: "The Dublin Road is a vibrant area of Belfast City Centre, forming part of the city’s 'Golden Mile', which is dominated by various retail, pubs, bars restaurants and other commercial land uses.
"The development of the adjoining 'Gallery' building, comprising 58 No. apartments, and 'Botanic Studios' student accommodation are recent additions to the area that will substantially increase the residential component of the area.
"This is a major thoroughfare located in the city centre and is one of the important streets used by pedestrians from Belfast Great Victoria Street railway station walking into shopping streets such as Royal Avenue.
"This is a highly sustainable location for residential development, within 5mins walk of Belfast City Centre, the main office core and the primary retail core as well as being within 5 mins walk of both the Great Victoria Street Bus and Rail Station and Botanic Train Station."
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