Belfast City Council's Planning Committee has granted planning permission this month for the development of two new hotels situated within the city centre.

The first approved application authorises a change of use at Lindsay House on Callendar Street. The site, previously utilised for fast food/restaurant, retail, and office space, will be transformed into a 76-bedroom hotel featuring a ground-floor bar and restaurant.

The second hospitality approval permits a change of use from office and retail space on Rosemary Street. This development will establish a 30-bedroom hotel alongside associated guest facilities and an on-site café.

In addition to the hotel projects, the Planning Committee approved applications for two new nursing care developments.

A 156-bedroom nursing home facility was approved for Cromac Place at the site of the former Halifax building. This project involves converting the existing building to house accommodation units, an ancillary scanning unit, support offices, and associated landscaping.

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Furthermore, permission was granted for a change of use from office space at the Grade B1 listed Netherleigh House, which previously served as the headquarters for the Department for the Economy. The conversion will deliver residential and nursing care facilities, incorporating an extension to the existing office block and the construction of 36 assisted living apartments split across two four-storey blocks.

The committee also greenlit a planning application for the conversion and long-term preservation of the former Good Shepherd Centre. The Grade B1 listed building will be converted into residential accommodation consisting of 28 apartments, offering a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units. The architectural plans include a ground-floor extension, a reconfigured external layout, an amended parking design, and the creation of a new access point from the Ormeau Road.

Councillor Ryan Murphy, Chair of Belfast City Council's Planning Committee, said: "We have had a range planning applications through Planning Committee this month which will benefit our residents and visitors alike, through the provision of much needed accommodation in our city.

"It's great to see plans approved that will further enhance Belfast's tourism infrastructure, increasing accommodation capacity and providing visitors with a wider range of hotel options.

"It's also good news for residents with the approval for the development of new apartment dwellings in the south of the city.

"The approval of two new residential care facilities, is also good news for local residents. These facilities will help meet the growing demand for care services and ensure that more people can access quality care services and further the council's agenda of supporting older people in our communities."

Additional details regarding the Council's Planning Service and the Planning Committee are available on the council website at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/Planning.