Local businesses have lodged a complaint with Belfast City Council and the Belfast Trust about how the application was approved
06:30, 02 Jun 2026Updated 07:46, 02 Jun 2026
Needles in a nearby subway off Ann Street
A group of businesses in Belfast City Centre has lodged a formal complaint with the council and health trust over the approval of a health clinic and needle exchange beside their premises.
Plans were approved on Christmas Eve last year for a health clinic and needle exchange on Donegall Quay at the junction of Ann Street which will provide a range of services to people who may otherwise struggle to access regular health facilities such as those with addictions or the homeless.
The complaint to Belfast City Council has been lodged by Clark Elliott of Elliott’s Fancy Dress with the support of other local businesses including Ox, Belfast City Skinworks, Nightshade Art, Living Space NI and Fish City, who have signed a petition raising concerns about the plans.
It is understood that the complaint is now at a stage two level within the council and highlights several concerns, such as how the application was advertised to local businesses, a lack of information made available prior to approval and a lack of action to address anti-social behaviour, drug taking and homelessness in the area already.
The complaint states the council made “an irrational decision” and calls for a committee hearing to discuss it. Mr Elliott said local businesses have faced an unacceptable lack of transparency and respect during the application process for the proposed clinic. It also includes photographs of used needles and drug paraphernalia found discarded in the area recently.
Businesses said they were told the facility by Belfast Inclusion Health Service would only have five appointments a day only to later be told it would run as a drop-in service.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Clark said: “There are a number of reason that we are complaining about how this application has been processed. Firstly this facility will be in close proximity to businesses that have a large number of children that go to them and the area is already dealing with anti-social behavior and drug use problems, even though they are not as obvious as other parts of the city centre.
“We do not think safeguarding has been taken into consideration at all with its location. It is surprising that despite there being a police station across the road, if there were to be a problem we would have to wait for police officers from the Lisburn Road to respond.
“This is also in a location along the Belfast waterfront that is popular with tourists and could impact on what they will see in our city.
“There has been a complete lack of transparency throughout this whole process, and we feel like we have been left with no other option but to lodge a formal complaint.
“It is clear that there are real issues with drug addiction and homelessness in our city centre that need to be addressed, but our politicians need to be looking at plans that will make a lasting change in people’s lives rather than handing out needles. I hope this can create a wider discussion in our city about how we do that and the policies that need to be put in place to help people who are suffering.”
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: ““The Council is currently considering a complaint from local businesses and residents with regard to its granting of planning permission in December 2024 for a change of use from solicitor’s office (Class A2 use) to clinical outpatient medical facility with consulting rooms (Class D1 use) at 3-4 Donegall Quay (LA04/2025/1851/F). The Council will not be providing any further comment until its complaints process has concluded.”
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