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Council set to bid for 18th Century building

Mark Simpson
BBC News NI communities correspondent
BBC A large square building in Belfast. The building is white and light brown. The windows are boarded up, some are brown and some blue. In the background there are other large buildings, they are grey. In the corner is a traffic light on red. BBC
Built in 1769, the Assembly Rooms building is located at the corner of North Street and Waring Street in Belfast

The historic Assembly Rooms in Belfast may soon be bought by the city council in a deal costing more than £2m.

A committee at City Hall has agreed to make an offer to take the derelict 18th Century building out of private ownership.

The Assembly Rooms were the site of the famous Belfast Harp Festival in 1792, which led to the preservation of the ancient tradition of Irish harping.

Details of the proposed purchase are confidential but the cost is thought to be in the region of £2.7m.

'Full-circle moment'

A council spokesperson told BBC News NI: "Elected members agreed that the council should purchase the Assembly Rooms and associated lands. The committee gave authority for the council to make an offer to the landowner.

"These lands include part of the North Street car park, 5-9 North Street and Braddell's Building, a grade B1 listed building at 11 North Street.

"This decision remains subject to ratification at the next full meeting of council."

Alliance councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown welcomed the move and said it would be a "full-circle moment" if the Assembly Rooms returned to public use.

It has yet to be decided exactly how the Assembly Rooms would be utilised by the council.

'Huge moment'

The historic building belongs to Castlebrooke Investments, which is behind the delayed Tribeca development in Belfast city centre.

Built in 1769, the Assembly Rooms are at the corner of North Street and Waring Street. In spite of the building's historical and cultural significance, it has fallen out of use in the past two decades.

The Assembly Rooms have been placed on a list of global 'at risk' heritage sites by the World Monuments Fund.

The Green Party described news of the council's potential purchase as a "huge moment" for Belfast.

A spokesperson said: "We are delighted at being able to secure the future of this historic building and are excited for what the next chapter of this culturally significant site will hold."

The next full meeting of the city council is due to take place on 1 September, when a final decision is expected to be taken.