A High Court judge has quashed decisions to demolish an historic Victorian building in Belfast city centre and replace it with flats.
The Northern Ireland Planning Service must now reconsider the future of the Nineteenth Century warehouse following the intervention of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society which successfully argued in court that the decision was flawed on conservation grounds.
UAHS says: ‘The Society’s judicial review of the DoE decisions to allow demolition of the Athletic Stores, Queen Street and redevelop the site with a nine storey retail and residential scheme proved to be successful. The approvals were quashed at the High Court hearing on Friday 8th January. Planning Service must now reassess the applications against existing policy tests, which include the cost of repair and placing the building on the market.
The linen cuff and collar warehouse was designed by the celebrated 19th century architectural firm of Young and Mackenzie and is located within Belfast City Centre Conservation Area. The Society has argued that the building makes a material contribution to the character of the conservation area and should be defended vigorously by the Department charged with protecting the environment. Belfast Planning Division’s own Conservation Officer also concluded that replacement of the building would result in harm to the conservation area. ‘
