Tribeca developer Castlebrooke sought £2.5m to sell ‘at risk’ Assembly Rooms

The owner of Belfast’s historic Assembly Rooms asked a charity for around £2.5 million to sell the listed building, The Irish News understands.

Heritage conservationists, who deem the building “at risk”, have launched a campaign to return the site to public ownership.

Originally built in 1769, the building on the corner of Waring Street and North Street is included in Castlebrooke Investments’ stalled Tribeca scheme as a proposed boutique hotel.

But little or no progress has been made to start work on any aspect of the 12 acre scheme, with fears growing that the damage to the Assembly Rooms, which has been vacant since 2000, could become irreversible unless action is taken.

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It’s understood that a charity interested in converting part of the building into a museum dedicated to the history of ‘The Troubles’, were quoted £2.5m in order to buy it.

A report is currently being prepared by Belfast City Council to examine the potential for the local authority to purchase the site.

A council spokesperson said maintenance of The Assembly Rooms is the responsibility of the building owner.

The council has the enforcement powers to intervene where a building is deemed dangerous, or where works are urgently necessary to preserve a listed building.

But the costs of acquiring and restoring the building could be significant.

A recent assessment by structural engineers, architects and quantity surveyors suggests it could cost another £8 million to fully restore both parts of the building.

A focal point for major social, political or cultural events in Belfast from the late 18th century, the building was expanded and extended over the years, becoming a major bank in 1845.

It comprises a large banking hall fronting onto Waring Street, while an extensive building behind stretches from North Street to Donegall Street.

Initial estimates suggest between £3m and £4m would be required to restore each section.

The preliminary report, seen by The Irish News, found evidence of on-going water ingress from the roofs and gutters found inside the listed building, with extensive dry rot throughout.

Part of the building, known as the ‘bank manager’s apartment’ on the first floor, was said to be in a near state of collapse internally.

“Part of the floor of the original Assembly Rooms has fallen away,” the report adds.

“Extensive staining of the ornate ceiling indicated leaks to the pyramidal roof and some of the decorative plaster dentils of the ceiling cornice have become detached.”

John Gray from Reclaim the Enlightenment is involved in the new Assembly Rooms Alliance campaign.

He said when compared to the £100m being spent on the Belfast Stories project on Royal Avenue, the cost of saving the Assembly Rooms is relatively small.

“It would be a phased development, but the key thing is to acquire and safeguard the building,” he said.

“It is urgent that action is taken.”

He said if the city council fails to intervene, then the campaigners will pursue an independent fund-raising strategy.

But he said securing funding without ownership of the building will be very difficult.

A spokesperson for Castlebrooke said it had worked with all the relevant, statutory authorities to ensure the Assembly Rooms is protected.

“For the last five years, we have also engaged regularly with Belfast City Council about a potential civic use for the building which we remain open to, if suitable commercial terms can be agreed.”