Business

McAleer & Rushe secure approval for redrafted 15-storey student accommodation tower

Computer generated impression of the 15-storey student accommodation tower on Bruce Street.
Computer generated impression of the 15-storey student accommodation tower on Bruce Street. Computer generated impression of the 15-storey student accommodation tower on Bruce Street.

CO TYRONE developer McAleer and Rushe has secured planning approval for a redrafted version of a 15-storey student tower block just off Belfast’s Great Victoria Street.

The group already has planning permission for a demolition and rebuild project at the site on Bruce Street, which links Dublin Road and Great Victoria Street.

A report signed off by Belfast City Council’s planning committee on Tuesday states the redraft is a commercial decision to switch tact from clusters to individual self-contained studios. It follows discussions with student housing provider Vita.

It will see the overall rooms reduced from 274 to 271.

The company said it will complete the project in time for the September 2023 academic year.

The council report said: “The applicant states that this is a very tight time-scale for a building of this size, complexity and considering the various construction constraints, however with a construction commencement in January 2022 they believe it is achievable.”

The proposed red brick building will have a five storey podium base upon which a narrower ten storey element is set back above.

Planning officials said the “proposed scale, height and massing is cognisant of existing context and approved schemes elsewhere within this area.

“Careful consideration has also been given to the form of the building with the effective use of a lower scale podium which visually breaks up the massing and allows the taller tower element to be setback from the street.”