Fresh plans to turn derelict courthouse into hotel
A Donegal property developer has has bought Belfast’s derelict Crumlin Road Courthouse and plans to turn it into a luxury hotel.
David Mahon, who lives in Fermanagh, sealed the deal for the listed property earlier this year.
And he said he’d preserve some of its historic features while proceeding with a project first launched by a previous owner turn it into a hotel.
“We’re hoping to redevelop it, but keeping Courtroom 1 and Courtroom 2. We’d turn it into a hotel or apart-hotel, maybe.”
Mr Mahon declined to say how much he’d paid for the building, which was built in 1849, and how much might need to be spent to transform it.
“There’s a large spend and we’re trying to work on it at the moment, through a feasibility study.
“I think it’s very important to preserve it, and we’ll be doing our best with it.”
He said his business will soon begin a pre-application consultation process before filing a planning application for the site.
“It will all be slower than usual as it’s a listed building and we’ll be keeping the listed building people happy.
“’We’re talking to the Department for Communities, to see it developed, and they’re giving us all the help they can.”
His limited company David Mahon Properties owns properties such as the Linen Green Shopping Village in Dungannon, which it bought earlier this year; De Courcy Centre in Carrickfergus; Kings Square Shopping Mall in east Belfast and Murrayfield Shopping Centre in Larne.
Crumlin Road Courthouse was previously owned by Liverpool developer Lawrence Kenwright. He was also behind the bid to turn the Scottish Mutual Building into the George Best Hotel.
But companies set up by Mr Kenwright went into administration, resulting in properties including the courthouse going on the market.
Planning permission for a change of use and development of the property as a hotel had been granted to Mr Kenwright’s business in 2018.
Permission was given for a reception with a lounge bar, restaurant, function suite, rooftop bar, swimming pool, treatment rooms and 55 ensuite bedrooms.
