A PROPERTY developer has launched an appeal over a decision to refuse planning permission for a large student accommodation scheme close to Belfast’s Sandy Row.
Artemis Developments, owned by well-known business figure Barry Gilligan, proposed 354 student units on the site at Glenalpin Street, located between Great Victoria Street and Sandy Row.
The application was refused last week by Belfast City Council’s planning committee on the recommendation of officials, who deemed it “unacceptable as the site is located within an established residential area”.
The proposal sparked dozens of letters of objections and a 271 signature petition.
DUP MLA Edwin Poots, who runs a constituency office on nearby Sandy Row, said the local community were “totally opposed to this type of development in the urban village of Sandy Row”.
He added: "What the area needs is housing for the local community, there has been a lack of investment in social housing, that is the only type of development wanted or needed in the area.”
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According to the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) website, Artemis lodged an appeal on November 10, four days before the city council’s planning committee voted on the proposal.
Originally from Co Fermanagh, Mr Gilligan was the chief executive of Ewart plc for around a decade before going on to set up Big Picture Developments and buy the former Crumlin Road Courthouse.
He was also a founding member of the Policing Board in 2001 and later became its chair.
The Glenalpin Street site is located next to Victoria Place apartments, developed by Big Picture between 2006 and 2008.
It’s also next to a large car park, which is typically used as the site for the annual Sandy Row bonfire in July.
The student accommodation proposal is Mr Gilligan's latest bid to develop the site in South Belfast.
Previous proposals include an 18 storey apartment tower featuring 225 units, a build-to-rent apartment scheme and more recently, a residential development featuring 205 units.
The shift to student accommodation follows a recent trend among Belfast developers, particularly on sites between the city centre and Queen’s University.
Earlier this month, Maghera-based South Bank Square dropped a build-to-rent plan for Fanum House in favour of a proposal for 610 student accommodation units.
Queen’s University has also announced plans for 469 student units on the Dublin Road, after purchasing part of the former Movie House cinema site from Kainos.
The Glenalpin Street site is also close to the new 269-unit Vita Student development on Bruce Street, recently completed by McAleer & Rushe.
The Vita Group last month sold the development along with two other student sites in a £300m deal. It remains on site as an operator.
Dublin-based Elkstone is also nearing completion on a £20m student accommodation scheme at nearby Bradbury Place.
