The old Belfast Met building at Whiterock is currently being demolished
Site of the the approved social housing development, Whiterock Road
A 77-unit social housing development has been approved for Whiterock Road, West Belfast.
Elected members of the the Belfast Planning Committee on Tuesday (February 17) unanimously approved a mix of 26 semi-detached houses and 51 apartments, as well as a new children’s centre, new car parking, a new substation, landscaping, open space and access at the former Belfast Metropolitan College Campus, Whiterock Road, Belfast.
The applicant is Newpark Developments Ltd, Omagh Road, Dromore, Co. Tyrone.
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The site is a former school and college, which consisted of two buildings, one containing the Whiterock Children’s Centre on the eastern portion of the site and the other building is a boxing club on the western portion. The old building is currently being demolished.
A similar application was presented and approved by the Planning Committee in December 2024. The key difference between applications is the amalgamation of apartment block A and the children centre to create an additional 15 apartment units. All other housing units and apartment blocks B and C remain unchanged.
Statutory and non-statutory consultees supported the proposal, and the council received no third party representations. Council officers recommended the application for approval.
The council officer planning report states: “The site is within the settlement limits for the city and un-zoned “white land” within the most recent version of draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015.
“The site is a suitable location for housing being within a generally residential area; the proposal would make effective use of previously developed land; i.e. site of a former school/college building. The height, scale and massing of the proposed buildings are in keeping with the surrounding area.
“The proposal would provide dedicated in-curtilage and off-street parking, the site is in a highly sustainable location with access to public transport.”
It adds: “The proposal is for social housing in the form of two storey semi detached housing and apartment blocks. The proposal will provide quality housing that will add to the variety of housing stock offered in this location.”
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