Business

£4m Belfast office scheme set for green light after site visit

The proposed office development at the junction of Upper Queen Street and Wellington Street is set to be granted planning permission today.
The proposed office development at the junction of Upper Queen Street and Wellington Street is set to be granted planning permission today. The proposed office development at the junction of Upper Queen Street and Wellington Street is set to be granted planning permission today.

A NEW £4m Belfast office development is finally set to be rubber stamped today by city council planners.

Hegan and Company Limited's proposal for a seven-storey office block at the junction of Upper Queen Street and Wellington Street is set be granted planning approval this evening at committee following a site visit by councillors last week.

The plans from the family-owned firm were initially recommended for approval last month, but the decision was deferred for a site visit due to concerns over the loss of the last Victorian building in the local vicinity. The site and current three-storey terrace building is in the city centre’s conservation area. It is expected today the scheme will finally be given the green light for development.

The £4m office scheme includes the clearing of existing buildings on the corner of Upper Queen Street and Wellington Street, which have not been occupied above ground floor level for several years. This is to pave the way for a seven-storey Grade A office building, creating approximately 1,281 sqm of modern workspace on the upper floors. At ground floor level the proposals include a further 160 sq m of retail space.

Hegan and Company director, Mark Hegan said despite the vintage of the exiting buildings they have now "reached the end of their useful life".

“Officers have recognised that whilst the buildings’ age and character is a factor for consideration, they have concluded that they are not architecturally significant and have been extensively altered over time. We are pleased that they have recognised and accepted the principle of redevelopment, and recommended approval of our new plans."

“We now hope that councillors, having visited the site and considered our proposals, will recognise the contribution that a new building that is sympathetic to the conservation area will make to the economic and social regeneration of the city centre. The city has an ambition to create new job and as such needs new office accommodation, we urge councillors having considered our proposals to support their officer’s recommendations," he added.

If approved Hegan and Company plan to begin construction this year and the new office is scheduled to be in operation by 2020.