GRAHAM Investment Projects (GIP) and the Mooney Hotel Group are preparing a planning application for a new purpose-built student accommodation scheme at the heart of the Queen’s University Belfast quarter.
The plans will see the transformation of the former Wellington Park Hotel site into a professionally managed student accommodation development of around 561 beds, alongside internal and external amenity areas and courtyard gardens.
The Botanic Inn, a long established Belfast institution, will continue to exist as part of the wider redevelopment, and the partnership says it will be modernised to include new amenity and recreation space to reflect changing social changing social habits.
The partnership says that, as much of Belfast’s existing purpose-built student accommodation is concentrated in the city centre, around a mile and a half from Queen’s University’s main hub of activity, the proposed scheme provides an unparalleled level of convenience for QUB students.
GIP managing director, John McDonald, said: “This site is the perfect location for students of Queen’s University. Our plans will provide game-changing campus living, allowing them to enjoy convenience, comfort and security that will enhance their overall student experience.”
“This will be further strengthened through our proposed partnership with Homes for Students, the UK’s largest independent student accommodation provider. The decision to enter the Northern Ireland market for the first time reflects their confidence in both the location and the quality of our proposals. Homes for Students’ involvement is a significant advantage for residents, who will benefit from exceptional on-site management and service standards. Importantly, the expectations they place on students have consistently improved student conduct elsewhere. This approach will help to grow positive relationships with neighbouring communities.”
The sustainable and contemporary architectural design has been tailored to respect the character and appearance of the Malone Conservation Area. Meanwhile, the acoustic performance of the plans has been carefully developed to minimise noise impacts for neighbouring properties and the surrounding community.
GIP says that the development in South Belfast will also reduce pressure on the local housing supply, with independent estimates suggesting that the scheme could free up to 150 homes, housing 360 new residents as a result.
John McDonald added: “Primarily, the proposed development will offer significant benefits to Queen’s students, but it will also deliver a much wider impact for the local area. It will activate and animate the Malone Road through new ground-floor retail offerings, for example. On a more strategic level, Belfast is facing a severe housing shortage. This development has the potential to ease pressure on the private rented sector by freeing up existing homes and enabling new residents to be accommodated in South Belfast.”
Felix Mooney, representing the Mooney Hotel Group, which owns both the Wellington Park Hotel and The Botanic Inn, stressed the changing nature of hospitality in this part of the city as the primary reason to support the redevelopment plans.
He said: “The Wellington Park Hotel and the Botanic Inn are synonymous with Belfast hospitality. We are immensely proud of what the Wellington Park Hotel has achieved over the past 75 years and are deeply grateful to our employees, customers, partners and the community for their unwavering support”.
“As a Group, we believe now is the time to commence the evolution of the site. The hospitality sector has changed, with a greater emphasis on visitors to the city centre. However, there is no better location in the city than Wellington Park for Queen’s students in terms of proximity and convenience. We are confident that our conceptual plans for the Botanic Inn will not just complement students but will reinvigorate this part of the Malone Road again. We see this as a new chapter for the site and are keen to ensure the local community is part of that evolution.”
