Planning permission to change former Portstewart B&B and hostel into student accommodation granted
A planning application for a change of use from a Portstewart B&B and hostel to student halls of residence has been granted.
The application is for 15 Church Street, Portstewart.
Planning permission has been granted to the applicant, MontaguLiving, to convert part of the former Montague Nursing Home, which was last used as tourist and hostel accommodation into university halls of residence.
A Design and Access Statement said: “Since early 2018, the applicant building has been used as a Guest House/ Bed and Breakfast comprising 45 bedrooms. The proposed scheme also proposes 45 bedrooms in the form of student accommodation. There will be no additional traffic generation and therefore no impact to the road network over and above the established and approved use.
"The proposal is for quality student accommodation and meets a pressing housing need.
The Design and Access Statement concluded: “Similar conclusions as were found in respect of the approved tourism scheme can be applied to this scheme - it involves the conversion of a long established building and so the scale, design and size is not an issue; it was last used for housing purposes (in the form of tourism/ hostel accommodation) and is surrounded by other residential uses; the use is compatible with surrounding land uses; the use does not detract from the character of the area; there is sufficient boundary treatment; there will be no harm to amenity; the use is appropriate because Portstewart is a recognised student town and therefore is compliant with the Area Plan.”