Northern Ireland's famous hospitality provider Galgorm Collection is set to introduce a new luxury hotel and restaurant in Belfast.

Plans have been approved by Belfast City Council for the new £8 million development, which will also include a bar.

Adding to the award-winning Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort in Ballymena, the latest project will include an 18-bed Boutique Hotel and Restaurant on the former Holy Rosary Church site on the Ormeau Road.

The ground floor will encompass a new kitchen & bar which has been styled on a similar group-owned venture launched at Galgorm Castle Golf Club earlier this year and which will provide a 150-seat BBQ smokehouse restaurant with wood-burning firepit as part of a new dining experience.

Additional off-street parking of up to 20 spaces has also been secured as part of the application following representations made by local residents during the consultation phase, the company confirmed, while an agreed travel and management plan will also now be adopted to underpin the development's success.

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The proposal is expected to create around 100 new jobs.

Planning and development consultancy Turley, who provided expert planning and strategic communications services for the project, also helped secure planning approval. Knox & Clayton Architects were appointed to design the scheme.

John Davison, Director, Strategic Communications at Turley commented: "This result represents a great outcome for all those involved on the project team as well as for Belfast. We appreciate the effort and consideration that Belfast City Council's planning team and planning committee put in to considering and ultimately approving this application. This reflects that the council can make the important decisions that will facilitate Belfast's economic development, and simultaneously preserve the city's built heritage

"Our team at Turley is very pleased with the outcome of this application. We were able to engage with local elected representatives as well as listen to the local community in order to enhance the final proposal."

Galgorm Collection Managing Director, Colin Johnston, added: "We've extensively engaged with councillors, partners, residents and stakeholders to ensure that one of Belfast's finest, historic buildings can be carefully restored to create an outstanding new and unique hotel and dining experience for the city and for Northern Ireland. We are delighted that our approved plans will further enhance Belfast's growing high quality hospitality offer in line with our own aspirations and that of the city, while adding to the vibrancy of community life on Ormeau Road."

The site is currently being carefully restored and preserved in advance of its opening in Spring 2020.

(CM/MH)