Former police station set to be transformed into hotel
A former police station in the heart of Belfast looks set to be turned into a hotel.
The City Hall planning committee has given the green light for a new 74-bedroom hotel on Queen Street and has granted listed building consent to bring the building into use again.
Permission for the change of use of the old police station at number 21 means the Grade B1 listed building is set to be refurbished, with a new nine-storey extension to be added to the rear of the building.
The development proposals include a bar and restaurant among other facilities.
Planning committee chair councillor Matt Garrett said: “Granting planning approval for this new hotel in the city centre and for these major residential developments across the city is fantastic news for visitors to Belfast and residents and potential residents to the city.
“The planning application for the new hotel in Queen Street is of particular significance as the building is Grade B1 listed and on the heritage risk register so bringing it into use again by converting to a new hotel is to warmly welcomed.
“It’s another great attraction for the city centre showing council’s commitment to develop the city centre to make it an attractive place to live, work, study and visit, socialise and invest in.”
“So far this year, and we are only in the second month, the Committee has granted approval to 773 housing units in the city. This also complements the city’s community plan – Belfast Agenda’s aim of increasing the city’s residential population and bringing forward residential opportunities across all housing tenures.”
The building served as a police station in the heart of Belfast from 1933 to 2000. Designed by Thomas Jackson & Son, it initially served as a hospital after completion in 1877.
The building has been abandoned since 2000, and has been on the at risk register since 2006.
