O’Dowd grants planning permission for hotel redevelopment in Portrush

Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has today issued Notices of Opinion to grant planning permission and consent for redevelopment of the Atlantic Bar and former Londonderry Hotel in Portrush.

Reaching his decision today Minister O’Dowd gave careful and thorough consideration to these full and listed building consent applications which were called-in by the Department in August 2019. 

Minister O’Dowd said:

“I fully recognise and respect the need to protect our built heritage and there has been positive engagement between my Department, the applicant and Historic Environment Division (HED) throughout this process. I believe this current proposal for an 83 bed hotel, which retains the original façade and other elements of architectural and historical interest, has the potential to deliver a tourist development which can make a contribution to the local and wider economy in terms of the revenues it can generate, the employment opportunities it can provide and the potential it creates for economic growth.”

Notes to editors: 

1. Reference: LA01/2017/0689/F & LA01/2018/0446/LBC
2. Current Proposal: The application is for an 83 bed hotel and associated services. This involves the retention and part refurbishment/restoration of the structural walls, shop fronts and roofs of both No. 39 and 41 Main Street and demolition of the residual elements of the listed building within the full extent of the site at 39-41 Main Street and 2 Atlantic Avenue.
3. Applicant: Andras Hotels
4. There is a previous approval on the site for a 92 bed hotel which proposed total demolition of the buildings. The applicant then engaged in pre application discussions with the council and subsequently submitted a revised application for total demolition of the buildings and the creation of a 103 bed hotel, however three weeks after submission of this application, the buildings at Nos 39-41 Main Street and No 2 Atlantic Avenue were statutorily listed by HED.
5. As a result of the listing, a number of design options were explored by the applicant and a revised scheme was submitted to Causeway Coast and Glens  Borough Council (CCGBC) in April 2018 reducing the bedrooms from 103 to 87.
6. Post call in by the Department there has been positive engagement by the applicant with the Department and HED with further compromise and design revisions being made.
7. A Notice of Opinion to approve the reserved matters application will now issue to the local Council (CCGBC) and the applicant.
8. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
9. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @departmentforinfrastructure

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