Homeless centre at Existing taxi passenger terminal and former retail unit located within 35a King Street, Belfast

“Development Management Report Committee Meeting Date: 17 th February 2026 Application ID: LA04/2025/0288/F Proposal: Retrospective change of use from ground floor taxi passenger terminal, cafe, office and newsagent to a Homeless Centre, Category D1(B). [The centre will provide meals, washing and changing facilities and an internal social amenity area for users.”

“This application seeks full planning permission for change the use of 35a King Street from taxi passenger terminal with café, offices and newsagents to a Homeless Centre, Category D1(B). The centre will provide meals, washing and changing facilities and an internal social amenity area for users. The centre will operate Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week from 4.00pm up until 10.00pm.”

“The site is located at 35a King Street, which was formally a taxi passenger terminal with café, offices and newsagents.”

“The site is located on the edge of the city centre boundary opposite the southern entrance to Castlecourt Multi Storey Carpark. There are hotels, bars, and retail offerings in the immediate surroundings of the site commensurate with its city centre location.”

“The use has been operating since May 2025 and retrospective planning permission is sought.”

“The site and surrounding area do not have any planning history of direct relevance to consideration of the application.”

“The proposal is considered to comply with Policies DES1, HC1 CI1, SP3, SP4, SP5, TRAN8 of the Belfast Local Development Plan Strategy 2035, the SPPS and Section 91(2) of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. Recommendation Having regard to the development plan and other material considerations, the proposal is considered acceptable. It is recommended that planning permission is granted subject to conditions.”

“Delegated authority is sought for the Director of Planning and Building Control to finalise the conditions, environmental health final consultation response and deal with any other matters which may arise, provided the issues are not substantive. Officer Report 1.0 Drawings and Imagery 1.2”

“The key issues are in assessing the application are:”

“Principle of the proposed use • Design and Placemaking • Health and Wellbeing • Access and transport • Impact on neighbour amenity • Anti-social behaviour…”

“Environmental Health – Awaiting final response PSNI – Comments (see main report)”

“Whilst the proposed use has the potential for anti-social behaviour, the management plan proposed and to be conditioned, is considered sufficiently robust to deal with matters which may arise. Furthermore, the centre has been operational since mid 2025 and no evidence has been provided to show that the centre has had an unacceptable impact on the amenity of the local area.”

“On balance; it is considered that given the important and necessary support role the centre plays within the city, its daytime only use, alongside the appropriate conditioning of a robust management plan, it will therefore not significantly impact the amenity of the local area to an unacceptable degree and the application is recommended for approval.”

“LA04/2025/0288/F - Retrospective change of use from taxi passenger terminal, cafe, office and newsagent to a Homeless Centre, Category D1(B). The centre will provide meals, washing and changing facilities and an internal social amenity area for users.. The centre will operate Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week from 4:00 pm up until 10:00 pm (Amended Description) - Existing taxi passenger terminal and former retail unit located within 35a King Street…”

“The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the application on the grounds that there was an outstanding Environmental Health report.”