A PROPOSED multi-million pound Belfast student accommodation block, previously the subject of a High Court challenge, has been put up for sale.
The site on Library Street, which has full planning permission for a 393-bed development, is now on the market, with agents CBRE seeking offers in excess of £2.5 million.
An application was also previously submitted for 93 residential apartment scheme at the city centre site, situated close to the new Ulster University campus.
In February Belfast City Council lost a High Court challenge to permission being granted for the 10-storey development, after initially vetoing a larger project in January 2016.
The council had attempted to judicially review the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) decision to give the go-ahead to the revised proposal but, a judge dismissed the case.
Mr Justice McCloskey ruled that council officials failed to alert the developer to concerns about the scale of the proposed development during a critical period. He held that those behind the scheme were then unfairly taken by surprise.
In January 2016 the council initially denied permission to developer Car Park Services Ltd & Slaney Ltd for the student accommodation block. Refusal was based on the overshadowing impact on nearby residences.
But in February last year the commission overturned the council’s decision after revisions were made to the development, which reduced the scale of the project.
Last month Co Tyrone developer, McAleer and Rushe submitted £14m plans for a 15-storey student accommodation block in the city.
The 265-bed Little Patrick Street project is the latest in a long line of student developments emerging in the city centre in the wake of Ulster University's decision to relocate its Jordanstown campus to York Street.
The new flagship Belfast campus, which has been beset by delays, may not be ready until at least 2022, but once complete will see student numbers in the city rise from 2,000 to 15,000.