‘It's tone deaf and lacks foresight': Plan to turn Belfast hotel into care home facing growing opposition
The plan is for change of use from hotel, conference centre and offices to a 97-bed care home and 1,559sqm diagnostic medical facility, including associated access, car parking, landscaping and open space works.
The site is at the Stormont Hotel, 587 Upper Newtownards Road and adjacent properties at Castleview Road, Summerhill Parade, and Summerhill Park.
The applicant's name is not given on the Planning Portal, but they are represented by the planning consultant Turley. The hotel is owned by the Hastings group and the application last year was reported as being from the firm Summerhill Retirement Developments.
The Planning Portal has 15 objections dating as far back as May 2024, all from neighbouring residents. Concerns include increased traffic use, car parking, noise pollution, the potential to create flooding and sewage problems and to lower property values. One opponent states that 'if the retirement village development were to proceed, I see no reason why this cannot be within the existing hotel/car park footprint and sympathetic to the existing properties in the area'.
'The loss of 16 affordable houses in a desirable location will not only reduce housing stock for the wider demographic, including much sought-after properties for first-time buyers, but also change the community in the area.'
14 cars damaged in Lisburn during overnight arson attack
Another said the area 'has rejuvenated itself and remains a popular area for young families and professionals on an arterial route into the city. I am of the opinion that creating a large retirement housing complex and 100-plus-bed care home is the opposite of what this area needs in terms of development'.
'Several over-55s housing sites have already been built in the past two years within a one- to two-mile radius of the proposed development, such as the new large, sheltered housing built on the former Park Avenue hotel site, which is, of course, great for our ageing demographic.
'The proposed development is not what the area nor province needs. Converting a hotel into a care home is not investing in our future and not forward thinking. Tourism is important for the NI economy; converting a hotel into a nursing home is tone deaf and lacks foresight.'
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At the most recent meeting of the Belfast City Council Planning Committee, councillors deferred the controversial application for a site examination. The plan is for change of use from hotel, conference centre and offices to a 97-bed care home and 1,559sqm diagnostic medical facility, including associated access, car parking, landscaping and open space works. The site is at the Stormont Hotel, 587 Upper Newtownards Road and adjacent properties at Castleview Road, Summerhill Parade, and Summerhill Park. The applicant's name is not given on the Planning Portal, but they are represented by the planning consultant Turley. The hotel is owned by the Hastings group and the application last year was reported as being from the firm Summerhill Retirement Developments. The Planning Portal has 15 objections dating as far back as May 2024, all from neighbouring residents. Concerns include increased traffic use, car parking, noise pollution, the potential to create flooding and sewage problems and to lower property values. One opponent states that 'if the retirement village development were to proceed, I see no reason why this cannot be within the existing hotel/car park footprint and sympathetic to the existing properties in the area'. 'The loss of 16 affordable houses in a desirable location will not only reduce housing stock for the wider demographic, including much sought-after properties for first-time buyers, but also change the community in the area.' 14 cars damaged in Lisburn during overnight arson attack Another said the area 'has rejuvenated itself and remains a popular area for young families and professionals on an arterial route into the city. I am of the opinion that creating a large retirement housing complex and 100-plus-bed care home is the opposite of what this area needs in terms of development'. 'Several over-55s housing sites have already been built in the past two years within a one- to two-mile radius of the proposed development, such as the new large, sheltered housing built on the former Park Avenue hotel site, which is, of course, great for our ageing demographic. 'The proposed development is not what the area nor province needs. Converting a hotel into a care home is not investing in our future and not forward thinking. Tourism is important for the NI economy; converting a hotel into a nursing home is tone deaf and lacks foresight.'
