Planning permission sought to build 250 apartments in city centre

The owners of a business park close to Belfast city centre have applied for planning permission to build more than 250 apartments on the site.

The City Link business park is off the Grosvenor Road, close to Grand Central Station.

The application is for 253 apartments in four blocks, of which the tallest would be 16 storeys.

One block of 51 apartments would be set aside for affordable housing with the rest for private rent.

The planning application indicates that the Choice housing association is being lined up to operate that part of the scheme.

The development would not include the creation of any new car parking.

The application states that "the proposal is for a car free development, given the city centre location of the site".

"The development site is in a highly accessible location well served by all active/ sustainable modes of transport."

The application also describes the current configuration of the business park as "a significant tear in the urban fabric of Belfast City Centre which the proposal seeks to repair".

There are indications that developers are taking an increasing interest in residential development in central Belfast.

The owners of the scheme formerly known as Tribeca have brought forward revised plans which are focused on housing.

A previous office-led plan was not delivered leading to significant criticism of the owners, Castlebrooke Developments.

The Martin Property group is preparing to start work on a development of 103 apartments at Marlborough Street.

Loft Lines, the largest residential development close to central Belfast, is nearing completion.

It consists of almost 800 homes in three blocks close to the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction.