UK: Planning permission for a 12-storey, 774 bedroom student accommodation block in Belfast is set to be granted planning consent this week.
First submitted in 2016, the plans — drawn up by planning agents Turley for Olympian Homes in partnership with Brookfield Student Real Estate — are for the development on a site bounded by Great Georges Street, Nelson Street and Little York Street.
The 245,000 square foot student block, to be called Nelson Street, will have shared sports and recreation facilities and a roof terrace.
Plans for the development have been delayed in recent years due to the delivery of the Ulster University City Campus being pushed back.
The application has been amended several times, but work is set to start imminently once final planning approval is given, according to a briefing paper drawn up for members of Belfast City Council’s (BCC) Planning Committee, which meets today (May 17).
“The ground floor will include a shared sports and recreational facility located centrally within the site. This will replace a previously approved courtyard,” says the briefing paper. “The facilities will be available for use by students and staff of the adjacent further educational institution either working or studying at the nearby university or residing in the existing PBMSA (purpose built managed student accommodation) schemes in the York Street/Nelson Street area.”
Permission has also been sought for the student block to be used as short-stay accommodation outside of traditional term times for further and higher education staff, or for those attending events hosted by a further or higher education institution.
The asset will be managed by Student Roost.
