Plans to demolish the home of Gustav Wolff, of Harland and Wolff shipbuilding fame, in order to build five different apartment blocks has sparked outrage amongst Sydenham residents.

The home of Gustav, who headed up the shipyard that built the Titanic, lived on an estate called the Den along the Palmerston Road. At that remains are two 19th century cottages.

If the plans are approved five separate apartment blocks totalling 34 apartments will replace the two cottages along with neighbouring houses on the Holywood road.

Terry Hoey, chairman of the Palmerston Road Residents' Association, said: "It is not that we are against development, that has to go on in this day and age, but this development will wipe out the last remaining part of Gustav Wolff's home.

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"Look what he did building up the city, yet we aren't even marking him in any way, instead this development would wipe him from our landscape. It would be a sacrilege."

Environment and heritage chiefs visited the site on January 23 in order to examine if they can legally protect the cottages.

Mr Hoey hopes the cottages make the spot listed criteria: "I'm glad to see environmental heritage coming out and looking at the issue before it becomes too late.

"When I talked with someone from the Heritage office he couldn't believe that these cottages were in Northern Ireland. He was bowled over by them when I sent photographs of them to the office three months ago. So we are hopeful we'll get a positive result."

The chairman is saddened at the lack of support received from local politicians. He sent emails to all east Belfast politicians last Saturday to make them aware of the plans.

"I'm surprised and disappointed, especially with the emergence of the Titanic Quarter and the booming tourism industry that they don't seem interested in saving this last piece of remaining history." he said.

An advertisement for the proposed demolition and replacement apartment complex appeared in papers on January 18.

A Planning Department spokeswoman said anyone wishing to raise objections had 14 days from the date of the advertisement to do so.

(GK/JM)