Belfast council officers are recommending approval for a new 88-bedroom hotel at the site of a former Michael Deane restaurant in Belfast.
Members of the planning committee will next week discuss whether to give the green light to an application for the site of the former Deane’s Deli.
The plan involves a two-storey rooftop extension for the new hotel, which will include a restaurant and bar and gym facilities.
The development involves part demolition of the existing building, comprising stripping back of the roof, shopfront and other external alterations.
The existing building dates from 1865 and comprises a 3 storey warehouse style building in cream brick with channelled stone ground floor. It is unlisted.
At ground floor level, the building is currently occupied by a cafe and a restaurant which appears to be under refurbishment. There is also a small shop and a physiotherapy clinic operating from the premises. The upper stories are currently vacant.
There have been no objections from any of the statutory partners except NI Water, who objected on grounds of network capacity. No third party objections were made by the public or businesses.
The council officer planning report states: “The principle of the proposed change of use to a hotel is acceptable given the accessible city centre location and creation of a tourist facility providing overnight accommodation to support the city centre economy.
“The height, scale, form and design of the proposed rooftop extension are considered to be in keeping with the building and the conservation area.
“The more traditional shopfront elements of the ground floor frontage are being retained, including a recessed doorway, whilst those elements considered to be less traditional and of less architectural merit are being replaced with a traditional shop front style façade, respecting the character of the building.
“The setting of nearby listed buildings, notably the Ulster Hall, are safeguarded. The Department for Communities Historic Environment Division has offered no objection to the proposal. Overall, it is considered that the character and appearance of the conservation area would be enhanced.”