Concerns over 870 room student halls proposal

There have been large student accommodation projects across Belfast city centre in recent years

Plans for a student housing scheme next to Belfast’s new transport hub have come under criticism.

Dublin-based developer Elkstone wants to construct an 870-bedroom scheme on land next to the Murray’s Exchange building at the junction of Sandy Row and Durham Street

However residents are calling for more affordable homes and social housing in the area.

Edwin Poots, the assembly member for South Belfast said on X: "Student housing is best suited to city centre sites, not within an existing social housing area that needs more homes."

Murray's Exchange, part of which is listed, can be seen at the bottom of this image

The site is bounded on one side by the new transport hub and on the other by a residential area along Linfield Gardens.

A public consultation will start soon before a full planning application is submitted for the development.

Elkstone has recently completed its first Belfast student scheme on Bradbury Place in the city centre.

It is also planning a 850-bedroom development at Corporation Street, close to the Ulster University campus.

Ciarán McIntyre, Elkstone Co-Founder and Head of Real Estate, said the proposed development site at Murray’s Exchange had been vacant for almost 20 years.

"Our plans to develop a purpose-built student accommodation scheme would not only assist in bolstering the supply of much needed student beds in the city but would also assist in revitalising the rich history of the development site," he added.

'Left behind'

Concerns around the plans have also been raised by community worker Bob Stoker describing them as a "final nail in the coffin" for the Sandy Row area where residents say they feel "left behind".

He said residents want to see more affordable homes and social homes for local people, as there are 4,000 people in south Belfast on a waiting list for social housing.

DUP councillor Tracy Kelly also said on X that the location for the accommodation is "not the right place at all".

Weavers Cross

The development site also includes the Murray’s Exchange building, with the potential for this to be repurposed within the masterplan.

Part of the building is listed but could be incorporated building into the proposal.

The transport hub is due to start operating next month when bus services currently operating from the Europa Bus Centre move there.

The wider area around the hub is intended to be redeveloped over the next 20 years in a scheme called Weavers Cross.

Translink, the public transport company, has appointed the County Tyrone developer MRP as its commercial partner in the scheme.