The company behind the controversial former ‘Tribeca’ scheme in Belfast has confirmed plans for a 15-storey co-living apartment tower in the city’s Cathedral Quarter.
Castlebrooke said its updated plans for Academy Street involve up to 150 units.
Not dissimilar to student accommodation, the co-living model typically involves smaller living units with residents sharing communal amenities.
Castlebrooke said its proposal involves private living quarters with shared lounges, workspaces and social areas.
The site was previously subject of a bid by Lacuna and Watkin Jones for a 19 storey build-to-rent apartment tower featuring 105 units.
Castlebrooke acquired the site in late 2019, securing permission for an amended application for 105 units across 16 storeys in late 2021.
It’s understood the English company originally paid around £3 million for the development site, which at one time was viewed as a potential solution for relocating the Choice Housing scheme on Donegall Street.
Planning permission for the apartment tower is due to expire in November this year.
While Castlebrooke’s design team has announced a public event in The Mac on August 26 (3pm to 7pm) to present its new co-living proposals for Academy Street, a new planning application has been lodged this week by TSA Planning seeking to scrub one of the conditions previously imposed for the build-to-rent tower.
That condition largely relates to requirements for archaeological work on the site at 81-87 Academy Street.
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TSA Planning is part of the spectrum of consultants and designers involved in Castlebrooke’s new residential and hotel-led plans for the land and buildings it owns between North Street and Donegall Street.
Gerry Hughes who leads the design team, said: “We’re pleased to have the opportunity to run an additional event focused on Academy Street as part of our consultation process.
“Co-living is a relatively new concept for Belfast so we feel it’s important to give people the chance to find out more about this key element of the wider scheme.”
Anyone unable to attend The Mac event can offer online feedback between August 26 and September 25 via northst-donegallst.co.uk.
