Northern Ireland

Plans to open hotel in art deco former Bank of Ireland building

The former Bank Of Ireland on Royal Avenue. Picture by Declan Roughan
The former Bank Of Ireland on Royal Avenue. Picture by Declan Roughan The former Bank Of Ireland on Royal Avenue. Picture by Declan Roughan

PLANS are to be submitted for the redevelopment of the former Bank of Ireland headquarters in Belfast city centre.

The five-storey listed art deco building on Royal Avenue is one of very few of the style left in the city.

It has lain vacant since the bank relocated its headquarters in 2005.

It was purchased that year, with plans to refurbish the building.

In 2012, the empty building made headlines when the Take Back The City element of the Occupy Belfast protest began squatting there.

It was sold in 2015, when it was reported it was to become part of a £300 million project to regenerate Belfast's Northside area.

Now, a company linked to McAleer & Rushe has filed a pre-application notice for the site which would create a hotel, offices and apartments.

It will also include retail and eateries.