Residential development set for green light

Plans for a residential scheme on the site of a former hotel and conference centre in east Belfast are set to move forward.Acting on behalf of Holywood Holdings Ltd and Choice Housing, Turley is seeking permission for two apartment buildings at a site adjacent to the Holywood Road and opposite The Strand cinema building. The scheme – made up of social, affordable and private homes and rising to a maximum height of four storeys – would incorporate 75 apartments, 11 townhouses and four apartments.To allow the development, the former Park Avenue Hotel, which has now ceased trading, would be demolished.Despite a number of objections, the scheme, which was revised in response to feedback from a public consultation, has been recommended for conditional approval.According to a report to be scrutinised by councillors, the proposal would assist the regeneration of the site and make effective use of a brownfield site while also introducing affordable housing.