Sandy Row student block developer submits plan for residential flats on same site

Belfast Councillors are to consider an application for a new residential accommodation block in the Sandy Row area of South Belfast where a student block was recently refused.

At the City Hall Planning Committee this week, elected representatives deferred for a site visit an application by Artemis Development Ltd at lands bounded by Glenalpin Street, Wellwood Street and Norwood Street, just beside Sandy Row.

The major development would involve the redevelopment of an existing surface level car park for the erection of an 11 storey residential development comprising 205 units, car parking, landscaping and all associated site works.

Read more: Queen's University quizzed over behaviour concerns linked to planned student block

Last December at Belfast City Council members unanimously refused a plan at the same site for the erection of a new 11 storey student accommodation building comprising 354 units. The application was again by Artemis Development Ltd. It was not recommended by council officers,

The council received 166 objections from the public on the student block plan, along with a 271 signature petition.

Concerns raised include the need for social housing in the area for local people and the restoration of family homes, as well as the proliferation of student accommodation in the area raising the potential for anti-social behaviour.

Objectors claimed private development in the area has not benefited the community, that the scale and massing of the student block is out of keeping with the area, and the increase in traffic would exacerbate issues in an area which has a history of parking problems.

The prposed 11 storey residential development has been recommended for approval by council officers. A total of six objections have been received by the council.

Objectors raised issues including the need for more social housing in the area, loss of privacy and light, and the impact of noise.

The council officer report states: “The site is un-zoned and the council must consider the application before it. There was no policy requirement for social/affordable housing when the outline approval was granted.”

It adds: “It is inevitable that introducing a building of this scale will lead to some impact on amenity for residents in adjacent housing and apartment blocks. However, it is considered that any impact on amenity would not be considered significant in this high density inner city environment.”

It states: “The site is located within the city centre, where background noise levels are relatively high from various sources including the nearby Great Victoria Street. The addition of the glazed barrier around external amenity areas will reduce potential noise breakout from these communal areas.”

The proposed residential building has much the same proportions of the student building. It is in a single and elongated block with a maximum height of 35.5 metres, or 11 storeys, facing onto Wellwood Street.

his drops to 17 metres, or five storeys, before rising and dropping again to 25 metres, or eight storeys, and 17 metres to the rear of the site backing onto the dwellings in St. Georges Gardens.

The surrounding area consists mostly of housing, including to the south and west with modern apartment blocks on either side. A vacant car park owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is located immediately north of the site with the new Grand Central Station beyond this to the north west. To the south is low rise traditional housing.

Before this planning application and the student block application there was an application in 2019 at the site for a build-to-rent residential block, which was approved but not acted on.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.