A new apartment block has been approved for University Street in South Belfast.
Elected representatives at the Belfast City Council Planning Committee this week unanimously approved the conversion, alteration and demolition of the rear of a former office building for six apartments and the construction of 30 more apartments alongside, with new parking and associated developments.
The site consists of a surface level car park on its west side and an end-of-terrace building on its east side, at 81 University Street, beside Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, which is on the other side of Rugby Road. The developer is Botanic Development Company, of Cranmore Gardens.
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One third-party objection was received by the council, and NI Water also offered objections to the application. The neighbour objections focused on a potential lack of parking, potential structural damage, noise pollution associated with construction, and impact on drainage.
The council planning report states: “A previous application on the site was refused and subsequently appealed. The refusal was sustained for a lack of parking. The applicant subsequently amended the parking layout by removing one ground floor apartment and adding two parking spaces as well as a package of green travel measures.
“This layout was submitted to the council through a pre application discussion and found to be acceptable in principle. The same layout is proposed is this application and considered to overcome the sustained reason for refusal.”
It adds: “All apartments remain to have sufficient outlook to the public street and there is no concern of an impact to the residential amenity of surrounding properties by way of overlooking or overshadowing.
“The parking layout has been amended and spaces moved closer to the rear of the ground floor apartments, a landscape buffer has been provided between the rear of the apartments and the car parking and this aids in protecting the amenity of potential residents.”
The developer has also promised a Travel Plan offering “100 percent funding” for A-Link travel pass on Metro services and also Belfast Bike membership for an initial three years to help establish sustainable travel. Also 50 percent funding will be offered for an initial three years for a car club. A Travel coordinator will also be appointed.
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