Issue 184 - Belfast BT6 • BT7 • BT8
New city centre hotel plan gets green light! Planning permission for a new 102-bedroom hotel in the city centre has been given the green light, at a recent Planning Committee meeting.
Pictured visiting the set of ‘The Death of Robin Hood’, which is being filmed at Belfast Harbour Studios, are (from left): Mark Huffam, NI Screen board member; Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald; First Minister Michelle O’Neill; Sir David Sterling, Chairman, NI Screen; Aaron Ryder, Producer, The Death of Robin Hood; deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly; Dr Theresa Donaldson, Chair, Belfast Harbour; Richard Williams, CEO of NI Screen and Joe O’Neill, CEO, Belfast Harbour. Photo by Aidan Monaghan
Major new movie a significant boost for local screen industry
The First Minister, deputy First Minister and Economy Minister have visited the set of ‘The Death of Robin Hood’ at Belfast Harbour Studios. Ministers said securing the production of the film, which stars Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer, was a significant boost and recognition for the local screen industry. With support from Northern Ireland Screen, the production is shooting in various locations across Northern Ireland
including Silent Valley, Glenarm, Murlough Bay, and Belfast Harbour Studios. Postproduction will take place at Yellowmoon in Holywood, County Down. First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “Our film and TV industry is booming and is a vital part of our creative
economy. The north has established itself as a leading location for filming and we continue to attract major movies and television series thanks to our highly skilled people and fantastic landscapes. “Securing ‘The Death of Robin Hood’ has provided an important
opportunity to raise the north’s screen industry profile even further. This project will employ a large number of local crew on a large-scale project, ensuring skills are utilised and ready for the next big production.”
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The development will see the conversion and restoration of the Grade B1 Listed Scottish Mutual Building, at the junction of Bedford Street, Donegall Square South and James Street South, into a new hotel with bars, restaurants and a ground floor extension. Two Council applications were also approved by the Committee – the first for a new 3G football pitch on an existing grass football pitch at Carnanmore Park, one of four pitches which are adjacent to Suffolk Community Centre in west Belfast. The second planning application was for a new stained-glass window on the ground floor of City Hall exploring the city’s LGBTQ+ history.
Councillor Arder Carson, Chair of the council’s Planning Committee said: “Granting planning permission for another new hotel in the city centre is welcome news. “The plans for the new hotel, where the former Scottish Mutual Building is, are important as they will see the conversion and restoration of another Grade B1 listed building in the city centre. The new hotel is within the Linen Quarter Conservation area and will be an enhancement to the area through its character/ appearance. “This development further reinforces Council’s commitment to develop the city centre and make it an attractive place for people to visit, stay, as well as, work, study and invest in.”