Business

McAleer and Rushe propose major new student accommodation scheme in Belfast city centre

Co Tyrone developer reveals bid for multi-storey Castle Street development

Norwich Union House from Castle Street. Picture by Mal McCann
Norwich Union House pictured from Castle Street in 2020. Picture by Mal McCann
By Ryan McAleer

Property developer and construction group McAleer and Rushe has revealed plans to develop a large student accommodation scheme in Belfast city centre.

The Cookstown-based firm has notified Belfast City Council of a proposal to demolish a block of buildings between Castle Street, Queen Street and Fountain Street and redevelop the site into a 375,000 sq ft residential building for students.

The property firm has proposed a number of schemes on the site in recent years, including a hotel and office building.

A subsidiary company of McAleer and Rushe secured planning approval in 2020 for a six storey office scheme at Norwich Union House.

But no work has progressed at the site, which is just located next the the city’s retail core.

Documents submitted to Belfast City Council by MRP NUH Ltd in recent days show the latest proposal is a larger scheme, which includes Westgate House on the corner of Castle Street and Queen Street.

It also includes a multi-storey car park on Fountain Street and a surface level car park on Queen Street.

A map showing the area (in red) included in the student accommodation proposal from McAleer and Rushe.
A map showing the area (in red) included in the student accommodation proposal from McAleer and Rushe.

A company linked to Belfast property developer Michael Herbert secured planning approval in 2020 for 54 studio apartments in Westgate House.

The MRP NUH proposal suggests the Co Tyrone firm has now acquired the building.

MRP is the investment and development arm of McAleer and Rushe.

A site map suggests all buildings within the boundary will be demolished to make way for the proposed new build student accommodation.

The area earmarked for the development includes a building on Fountain Street currently leased to Oxfam.

The site area, which measures 58,000 sq ft, indicates the proposed student scheme will be between six and seven storeys.

Westgate House, located on the corner of Queen Street and Castle Street, is now part of the McAleer and Rushe proposal for the Norwich Union House site.
Westgate House, located on the corner of Queen Street and Castle Street, is now part of the McAleer and Rushe proposal for the Norwich Union House site.

A proposal of application notice (PAN) submitted to Belfast City Council includes plans for a gym and cinema for residents, with ground floor units for retail and other uses.

A PAN, which involves a public consultation process, is required for major development schemes.

Details of the proposal will be put on public display at Linen Hall Library on May 29 at 4pm.

McAleer and Rushe is currently progressing a number of large student accommodation developments in England.

A scheme the company built in Belfast last year for Vita Student was sold in October 2023 as part of a £300 million deal involving two other properties in Britain.