Planners recommend approval to demolish Swanston's linen warehouse - AGAIN

Planning Service has, for the second time, approved the demolition of Swanston's linen cuff and collar makers' warehouse. Following the first approval the UAHS took the Department to court on the basis that it had failed to properly assess the application and that decision was duly quashed.

The 4 storey red brick building is located within Belfast City Centre Conservation Area. The proposals were opposed by the Conservation Officer, Conservation Area Architect and the Case Officer who argued that the proposals would harm the Conservation Area and that "information on the efforts made to retain the building were minimal" but the Group concluded that the application should be approved.

The UAHS, the Forum for Alternative Belfast and Consarc Design Group devised an alternative proposal which involved building behind the facade (having been denied access to the building). This was not followed up by the owner despite the fact that policy states that "the Department will require to satisfied that genuine efforts have been made without success to continue the present use or find compatible uses for the building."

The application went before the Planning Committee in Belfast City Council on 18th November and despite support from the Alliance Party, Sinn Fein and a DUP member to bring this controversial application to the Planning Management Board for further scrutiny, the vote was split and approval has now been granted.

UAHS has written to the DoE Minister, Alex Attwood, to ask if he is to call in the application and take the final decision himself as he promised. If it is not overturned at this stage then the Society may be obliged to use its very limited resources to challenge the Department once again in the High Court. This is the only route available to challenge such decisions in the absence of Third Party Rights of Appeal.

View the planners' report.

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