Mandeville Developments’ plans for 795-room multi-million-pound purpose-built student accommodation scheme is set to be approved in a Belfast City Council planning meeting next week.
The one-acre site is currently a surface-level car park situated behind the former Frames Complex and close to the Sixth, which is the former Belfast Telegraph building.
The planned student hall of residence is located next to Ulster University’s new campus on an island site between Library Street, Little Donegall Street, Stephen Street, and Union Street.
The development is one of the largest in Belfast to date. However, it is expected to only meet a fraction of the needs in the area, after the new c opened its door to 15,000 students and staff in September.
The scheme will also introduce ground floor uses, including cafe and retail space, and deliver public realm improvements to surrounding footpaths.
Colin Donaldson, director of Mandeville Developments, said: “Intake across both universities has grown during the pandemic, and as students have moved back into the city and classes have returned full time, we have seen the demand rise beyond what we anticipated when we chose to invest in Belfast and support regeneration in the city centre.
“We understand from both universities and the further education college that demand for quality managed accommodation in the city will continue to grow and outstrip approved or existing supply.
“Throughout the planning process we have had very positive engagement with businesses and the local community to ensure our proposed designs respect the character of nearby listed buildings and can support the delivery of wider residential accommodation in the area, as outlined by Belfast City Council’s Inner North West Masterplan.”
The design is being led by local practice Like Architects with project managers WT Partnership.
See more Belfast planning information>>
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