Plans to reconstruct a new replica facade at the site of Bangor's Royal Hotel will “renergise and reinvigorate” the historic town centre building, those behind the project have said.
Back in 2018, it was first announced that the landmark Co Down hotel, which had closed four years earlier, was set to be transformed into apartments as part of a £3m development.
At the time, councillors in Ards and North Down gave Expedia Capital, a Northern Ireland development and regeneration company, permission to turn it into 21 high quality apartments with four ground floor restaurant units.
However, when the developer commenced works on the site which overlooks the picturesque marina, a number of structural issues became apparent, including corrosion of the existing steelwork.
The developer is now seeking to remedy this by demolishing the existing building and reconstructing a new replica facade on to Quay Street.
This will provide the most structurally sound building, while also still respecting the history of the site by matching the material finishes of the previously approved scheme.
The Royal Hotel was built 241 years ago in 1773 and later rebuilt in 1932 by the O'Hara family, who ran it until it was taken over by the Donegan family in the early 1990s.
Previous plans to rebuild the hotel were drawn up but later abandoned due to delays in obtaining planning permission and the onset of the recession.
Prior to its closure, the seaside hotel was synonymous with Bangor for over two-and-a-half-centuries.
Thousands of people crossed the threshold down the years with singer Sir Van Morrison among the famous names to regularly visit the hotel's restaurant.
A spokesperson for The Royal Quays said: “Our plan has always been to renergise and reinvigorate a building which played such a significant role in the history of Bangor and the fabric of the town centre.
“Our initial planning approval paved the way for us to transform a derelict building into a vibrant mixed-use development to provide homes with views across the Irish Sea for generations to come, and restaurant space for the people of Bangor and beyond to enjoy.
“It was important for us to maintain the structure of the Royal Hotel when we submitted our initial planning application, and we were delighted when this was welcomed through planning approval by Ards & North Down Borough Council.
“Upon the granting of the planning permission, we were excited to move forward with the implementation of the planning consent.
“Due to corrosion of the external steelwork being discovered at a late stage we have had no alternative but to submit a planning application for the demolition of the building and construction of a new replica façade onto Quay Street, which matches the existing scheme that previously received planning approval.
“All material finishes will match those of the previously approved scheme.
“Our proposal will benefit the ongoing regeneration of Bangor town centre by providing town centre living opportunities and commercial units that would be well suited for restaurants and cafes.
“We hope to honour the history of this site by keeping the finish of the Royal Quays in keeping with the area, and matching the scheme that the council previously welcomed.
“We hope the council will give this amended scheme the same support afforded to our original application, and we can work together to bring new life to this area of Bangor.”
