Council Approve Another New Student Accommodation Block

Approval has been granted for the construction of four new student accommodation blocks, with heights ranging up to 18 stories, on Great Victoria Street. At its November monthly meeting, Belfast City Council's Planning Committee gave the green light for the demolition of the existing structures on the site to make way for a purpose-built, managed student accommodation development. The project will consist of four blocks, varying from six to 18 stories, and will provide 560 student rooms.

The site earmarked for redevelopment includes Fanum House, Norwood House, and adjacent lands at 96-110 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2. The £42 million project, proposed by South Bank Square, will deliver 560 student rooms, comprising 205 studio rooms and 355 cluster rooms. The development will also feature an on-site café, communal facilities such as a gym, cinema, study rooms, laundry facilities, and landscaped roof gardens.

Fanum House, previously home to media outlets like The Irish Times, RTÉ, and Sky, has often been labeled "Belfast’s ugliest building." Its transformation is expected to boost the local economy by £48 million during construction and create 790 jobs. The demolition of existing buildings is planned for early next year, with construction to begin shortly after. Statutory consultees raised no objections, apart from NI Water.

A spokesperson for the applicant stated: “The redevelopment of Fanum House will deliver a high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation scheme, revitalizing this under-utilized site and supporting the wider regeneration efforts in the area, alongside developments from Kainos, QUB, and Vita.”

In recent months, Belfast City Council has approved several large-scale student accommodation projects. In September, the city’s largest purpose-built student scheme was given the go-ahead: the Titanic Quarter Student Village, comprising 1,007 bedrooms across four blocks, located near Olympic House and Belfast Metropolitan College. This includes 286 studio bedrooms and 721 cluster rooms.

In August, councillors approved a 201-bed student accommodation and retail unit on Dublin Road, at the site of the former Filthy McNasty’s pub and club.  Two student housing sites, Botanic Studios on Dublin Road and Vita on Bruce Street, are already operational near Fanum House. However, the council received two objections, highlighting concerns about the density of student housing, privacy issues from rooftop terraces, and a need for more green spaces and social housing.

The council's planning report endorsed the project, noting its "sustainable city-centre location" with excellent transport links, including proximity to Grand Central Station. The report concluded that the design, following amendments, aligns with the area’s character and will contribute positively to its regeneration.  An agent for the applicant remarked during the Planning Committee meeting: “Fanum House has been an eyesore in Belfast City Centre for far too long.” 

More student accommodation is planned for the Dublin Road area, with Queen’s University securing approval for a new development at the former Movie House cinema site. Additional student housing is also available nearby on Bradbury Place.  In May, the council approved an 11-story build-to-rent apartment block aimed at "young professionals" on a site opposite Fanum House. Currently a car park, the site is located behind Park House, bordered by Glenalpin Street, Wellwood Street, and Norwood Street, near Sandy Row.

Last December, Belfast City Council unanimously rejected a proposal for an 11-story student accommodation building with 354 units on the same site. Both applications were submitted by Artemis Development Ltd.

According to Savills Residential Research and Consultancy, as of September 2023, Belfast has 12 operational purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) blocks, providing a total of 7,690 beds. In the 2021/22 academic year, the city had 42,660 students. These PBSA developments accommodate only about a quarter of the student population. To achieve a student-to-bed ratio of 1.5 for those needing term-time housing, an additional 5,700 beds would be required based on 2021/22 figures.

While new approvals this year have helped reduce the shortfall, Belfast still needs at least 3,000 more student beds by 2030 to meet demand.