Minister gives green light for two hotels on last day in office

Two major Northern Ireland hotel developments have been given the ministerial green light and now look set to go ahead.

Hours before vacating his post as caretaker infrastructure minister John O’Dowd granted planning permission for the redevelopment of The Londonderry Hotel in Portrush and Mourne Park House in Kilkeel.

Mourne Park House, the ancestral home of the earls of Kilmorey, was badly damaged in a 2013 blaze and descendent Marion Needham Russell is behind the application to redevelop it into a luxury hotel.

The estate, which dates back to the 16th century, last year sold off 156 hectares to the Woodland Trust which opened it to the public and Marion Needham Russell now hopes to transform its historic manor house into a luxury hotel and spa.

Newry, Mourne and Down’s planning committe last year went against the advice of officials and granted planning approval for the application that was subsequently ‘called in’ by the infrastructure minister.

In a statement, Mr O’Dowd said he had carefully considered all the evidence and the report and advice from his officials, adding: “On balance I believe that this development will bring significant economic and social benefits to the Mourne area, boosting tourism and creating employment opportunities for the local community.”

Meanwhile, Belfast-based hospitality group Andras Hotels originally launched its bid to redevelop the Atlantic Bar and former Londonderry Hotel in 2017.

The application for an 83 bed hotel on the site was approved by Causeway Coast and Glens Council in 2019, but was later ‘called-in’ by the infrastructure minister over concerns around the historical nature of the buildings.

Mr O’Dowd said: “I fully recognise and respect the need to protect our built heritage and there has been positive engagement between my department, the applicant and Historic Environment Division throughout this process.

“I believe this current proposal for an 83 bed hotel, which retains the original façade and other elements of architectural and historical interest, has the potential to deliver a tourist development which can make a contribution to the local and wider economy in terms of the revenues it can generate, the employment opportunities it can provide and the potential it creates for economic growth.”