As you probably already know the intended plans for the
‘regeneration’ of the northside have been rejected albeit for reasons more
administrative than protest based.
From the developer’s point of view this potentially means a
case of just simply re-applying.
Furthermore, any signs of public discomfort at the original
plans will more than likely result in a souped-up PR campaign rather than a
back-to-the-drawing-board reappraisal of the original plans.
So, what next?
Well, let us dwell in a spot of speculation.
Imagine for a minute that you’re at the helm of a large
property development consortium, what would YOU do?
1/ Pull the plug on
the whole project – This would result in the loss of millions in potential
profit. As mentioned previously the student apartment market is a rather
lucrative market - http://thebelfastrevival.blogspot.ie/2016/01/down-rabbit-hole-ever-so-slightly.html
So, ‘NO’ would be the bookie’s favourite as the answer to
this scenario
2/ Comply with public
demands and come up with a more sympathetic plan for the area – As with the
above argument this would reduce profit margins so again ‘no’.
3/ Wait.
Sit on the
properties.
Run the area down further.
Let the PR hounds do
their work and try to bring the public on board with simplistic and alarmist
outcries:
“HUNDREDS OF POTENTIAL JOBS
LOST AS REGENERATION PROJECT FALTERS”, “STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CRISIS IN
BELFAST”, “BELFAST NOT BUSINESS
FRIENDLY” etc. etc. as well as a few other
stunts (which I shan’t mention lest I give them ideas).
After a while the politicians will need to be ‘seen to be
doing something’ and will pressurise the planning department into approving the
project.
That’s what I would do if it was my (large) profit margin at
stake.
Simply. Wait.
And try again.
Once students start
kicking off because they have nowhere to live thanks to a bunch of ‘internet
NIMBY’s’ then public opinion will do the rest.
“What do WE do then?”
Well, more on that later.
In the meantime, if you have any ideas or thoughts then let the planning office know: planning@belfastcity.gov.uk
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