RESTORATION of the iconic Bank Buildings will not start until next month at the earliest, with a 21 day public consultation announced by Belfast City Council on Primark application to begin work.
A Primark spokesman said because it is "a listed building of historical significance to Belfast, we are committed to a conservation-led approach to works on the building to preserve as much of the original building as possible".
"Primark is submitting a Listed Building Consent Application this week. This application is legally required before we can carry out any work on Bank Buildings."
He said the company and the council "hope to have a solution soon" to reducing the cordon around the gutted building and "open up the Castle Place junction as soon as possible".
The Victorian building was gutted by fire in August, and a safety cordon has seen 14 neighbouring businesses closed for up to four months - cutting into the key Christmas trade.
A council spokeswoman said it is "ready to receive and assess the application", but warned it will have to carry out the three-week consultation before assembling an "officer report with a recommendation, and that goes to Planning Committee for decision".
