VICTORY FOR SOCIAL HOUSING CAMPAIGN

Group hails council planning decision

A MAJOR initial planning application has been approved – paving the way for social housing, office and community space and a hotel extension.

The residential and community aspects of the proposal for the vacant site in South Belfast’s Gasworks have been welcomed by a group campaigning for the adjacent Market community.

Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee this week green lighted ‘outline’ planning permission for the erection of 94 social housing dwellings on two sites with access from Raphael Street and Stewart Street.

A representative from the Markets Development Association told the Planning Committee this week: “The sites under consideration were among the first developed in South Inner City, and we are delighted to see its historic housing use restored.

“This is the culmination of two decades of campaigning by Markets residents, the last five years of which have been particularly intense, under the banner of the Homes Now! campaign.

“Residents have collected petitions, lobbied political representatives, participated in the consultation process, and when necessary, have protested to secure these homes.

“In a community which year-on

We are delighted to see its historic housing use restored SPOKESMAN TO COUNCIL COMMITTEE

year has over 110 homeless families on the waiting list, the 94 new homes will have a considerable impact.

“The causal links between homelessness and poor mental health and poor educational attainment are well documented.” The applicants for the residential part of the plan are Belfast City Council and Radius Housing.

Approval was given by elected representatives subject to conditions, after recommendation from council officers.

The residential element forms one part of a plan for the currently unused brown field site known by planners as the Gasworks Northern Fringe.

The larger plan involves new office, retail, and commercial space, an extension to the Radisson hotel, a multi-storey car park, a new public plaza, as well as community infrastructure and community enterprise space.

The council report states: “The residential element is in effect an application for full planning permission, but procedurally it is an outline application.” A mix of two-storey residential

homes and five-storey residential apartment blocks, as well as three, five and eight-storeys mixed-use buildings are proposed within the masterplan area. An extension of the Radisson Blu Hotel will comprise a five-storey block, with provision for approximately 101 bedrooms.

PROPOSAL View of new development in Belfast GROWTH Move has been welcomed