Planning application submitted for social housing in Belfast

The proposal is for a change of use to the first and second floors of The Arches Centre at 15 Bloomfield Avenue into 45 No. apartments, and the addition of a new third to provide another 19 No. apartments. The ground floor of the longstanding building, which is home to local retail institutions such as Wyse Byse and other small businesses, will not be affected by the proposal and will remain open as usual. The first and second floors of the building are currently office space or used for storage and as a temporary art studio.

The site sits at the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and enjoys direct access onto the Newtownards Road, one of the main arterial routes into Belfast City Centre, and is close to a range of amenities and attractions including Translink’s Glider route, active travel options via the Connswater Greenway, many bars, restaurants, cafés and retail outlets, and civic spaces such as C.S. Lewis Square. The proposed development will maximise what is currently under-utilised space above existing retail units and create much-needed social housing that is highly liveable and well-connected.

Prior to the submission of the planning application for this proposal, Gravis managed an extensive programme of statutory Pre-Application Community Consultation (PACC), which included the delivery of a public consultation event in a local venue in addition to various other means of remote and online consultation. The feedback received on the plans presented was positive, citing the urgent need for social housing in East Belfast and the resourcefulness of repurposing what is an underutilised space in The Arches Centre to address this issue.

We look forward to progressing this project which will provide quality housing for those who need it the most.