Company lodges bid to turn top Belfast hotel into retirement complex

But owners Hastings Hotels Group said on Tuesday that they have not sold the site and that it is not for sale.

Summerhill Retirement Developments, which is not linked to the hotel group, has applied for outline permission for independent living and assisted living retirement apartments on the hotel’s site at 587 Upper Newtownards Road. Their plans first emerged in 2022.

The plans would also affect 11 nearby properties at Castleview Road, as well as three at Summerhill Parade and two at Summerhill Park.

Summerhill Retirement Developments’ planning application includes permission for internal access roads, communal open space, revised access from Castleview Road and car parking, according to a notice published on Friday.

The company’s website describes it as “an investment-backed venture established solely for the purposes of exploring development opportunities in Northern Ireland”.

"This outline planning application represents the entity’s first expression of interest in the NI market,” its website adds.

According to Companies House, the company’s sole director is Mark McGugan, whose address is given as Victoria House in Gloucester Street, Belfast.

Hastings Hotels Group on Tuesday that it had nothing to add to a statement issued in 2022. At that point, it said it had been approached by Summerhill’s planning agent to seek planning permission for a retirement complex on lands occupied by their hotel.

"The Upper Newtownards Road site has been identified by Summerhill Retirement Developments Limited as a prime location option for the development of a new retirement living complex...

“Summerhill’s interest in the site which is currently occupied by the Stormont Hotel, and the ensuing outline planning application process, does not pose any impact on the operations of the hotel or any existing or incoming accommodation or event bookings.”

They said the 106-room hotel had been trading for over 60 years with around 75 members of staff.

"Hastings continues to operate the Stormont Hotel as a successful hotel and conference venue and therefore has no plans to close the Stormont Hotel.

"The group does, however acknowledge the external interest in the site’s potential, its benefits and that of the Upper Newtownards Road locale.”

They added that the process was “speculative” and had no impact on staff retention. “There will be no discussions in relation to redundancies or hotel closure and all future discussions related to such are subject to Summerhill’s feasibility assessment and continued interest.

"All existing accommodation and event bookings remain unaffected.”

If planning permission is granted, Summerhill is expected to start identifying long-term investment partners and an operator for the retirement complex.

Hastings Hotels Group owns five other hotels around Northern Ireland – Culloden Estate and Spa , the Europa Hotel and the Grand Central Hotel, also in Belfast, as well as Ballygally Castle on the north coast, and the Everglades Hotel in Londonderry.

Last week, the group reported a more than 60% jump in pre-tax profits to £6.9m as a post-pandemic recovery in tourism bedded in.

The firm, founded by Sir William Hastings, also reported an 18% jump in its turnover from £43.18m to £50.74m over the year to October 31 2023.

In 2021, it sold the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa in Newcastle, Co Down to US firm AJ Capital Partners for a reported £40m.

News Catch Up: Tuesday 7th May 2024