Investment firm eyes retirement home on hotel site
An investment company is seeking planning permission to turn the site of Belfast’s Stormont Hotel into a retirement complex.
But owners Hastings Hotels Group said that they have not sold the site and that it is not for sale.
Summerhill Retirement Developments, which is not linked to the hotel group, has applied for outline permission for independent living and assisted living retirement apartments on the hotel’s site at 587 Upper Newtownards Road. Their plans first emerged in 2022.
The plans would also affect 11 nearby properties at Castleview Road, as well as three at Summerhill Parade and two at Summerhill Park.
Summerhill Retirement Developments’ planning application includes permission for internal access roads, communal open space, revised access from Castleview Road and car parking, according to a notice published on Friday.
The company’s website describes it as “an investment-backed venture established solely for the purposes of exploring development opportunities in Northern Ireland.
“This outline planning application represents the entity’s first expression of interest in the NI market,” its website adds.
According to Companies House, the company’s sole director is Mark McGugan, whose address is given as Victoria House in Gloucester Street, Belfast.
Hastings Hotels Group said it has nothing to add to a statement issued in 2022. At that point, it said it had been approached by Summerhill’s planning agent to seek planning permission for a retirement complex on lands occupied by their hotel.
“The Upper Newtownards Road site has been identified by Summerhill Retirement Developments Limited as a prime location option for the development of a new retirement living complex…
“Summerhill’s interest in the site which is currently occupied by the Stormont Hotel, and the ensuing outline planning application process, does not pose any impact on the operations of the hotel or any existing or incoming accommodation or event bookings.”
They said the 106-room hotel had been trading for over 60 years with around 75 members of staff.
“Hastings continues to operate the Stormont Hotel as a successful hotel and conference venue and therefore has no plans to close the Stormont Hotel.
“The group does, however acknowledge the external interest in the site’s potential, its benefits and that of the Upper Newtownards Road locale.”
