Vacant bar to be razed for social housing scheme

A vacant north Belfast bar is to be demolished to make way for social housing, it has been revealed.

Belfast councillors approved plans for the building of seven red brick terraced houses at the site of The Sportsman, which  sits on the corner site on the junction at 475-487 Crumlin Road and Brompton Park.

The site previously received planning approval for a new building with 16 apartments above a new pub and bookies in 2016, but the permission period for building ran out early last year.

At a recent Planning Committee meeting, elected members were recommended by council officers to approve the plan from Oakland Homes.

A council report states: “The proposal follows the general pattern of development in the area. The design and layout will not create conflict and is in keeping with the local character and will not impact on environmental quality or residential amenity.

“In terms of prospective residents, each unit has an adequate outlook to the public street. All dwelling units are proposed to be built to a size not less than Housing Executive standards, providing adequate living accommodation.

“It is also considered that the design, layout and separation distances proposed are acceptable and will not significantly impact on existing residential amenity by way of overlooking, dominance, loss of light or overshadowing.”

There were no objections from any of the statutory bodies, but the council received one objection from the neighbouring Crumlin Star Social Club, which raised concerns including issues relating to impact on trade, access to their property, security issues, interface violence, potential for noise pollution complaints and additional running costs.

A council officer told elected members: “Parking isn’t an issue, and hasn’t been raised by DfI Roads. They feel there is ample potential for parking on-street, both at the site frontage and on adjacent residential streets.”