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Belfast councillor's Holylands office faces planning probe

Declan Boyle's lettings business operates from a terraced house on University Avenue in the Holylands, Belfast
Declan Boyle's lettings business operates from a terraced house on University Avenue in the Holylands, Belfast Declan Boyle's lettings business operates from a terraced house on University Avenue in the Holylands, Belfast

A COUNCILLOR'S student property business is being investigated for operating from a house in south Belfast's Holylands area without planning permission.

The SDLP's Declan Boyle is a landlord managing dozens of properties including more than 30 student lets in the Holylands that earn hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.

His lettings business, Boyle Properties, operates from a terraced house on University Avenue in the student area.

An investigation has been launched by Belfast City Council after it emerged the property does not have planning permission to be used as office space.

The council refused to give details of when it became aware of the matter or what action the planning department intends to take.

"This issue is currently under investigation and therefore it would be inappropriate for the council to comment at this stage," a spokesman said.

Mr Boyle and the SDLP did not respond to requests for a comment.

No planning application has been submitted in relation to the property since 1992.

At that time permission was granted for the house to be used as two flats, according to online planning documents.

There is no signage outside the house to show its use as a lettings office, but it is listed as the address of Boyle Properties on various property websites.

A staff member confirmed it was the address for the rental business when contacted by The Irish News.

Last year Mr Boyle faced calls to refer himself to the public services ombudsman over a proposed £80,000 grant for the Holylands area.

It came after it emerged that the SDLP representative did not declare an interest when a council committee he chaired approved the funding.

At the time Mr Boyle insisted that he would not benefit from the proposed Holylands improvement scheme.

Councillors are required to declare their property and business interests to help assure the public that decisions are not being made for their own personal or financial benefit.

But on his council declarations form Mr Boyle simply wrote: "Various properties in Belfast".

He has repeatedly refused to disclose to the council details of the properties, telling The Irish News: "It's none of your business."

Last year an Irish News investigation revealed that nearly two-thirds of councillors had not declared any land or property, while dozens had not disclosed their involvement in registered businesses.