New £5.5m Premier Inn hotel near Belfast International Airport given planning permission

The proposal will see the construction of a three-storey Premier Inn hotel at the junction of Ballyrobin Road and Antrim Road, Crumlin.

An 81-bedroom development with restaurant and bar is planned at the location which is 250 metres from the airport. The proposal includes new access at Antrim Road. The proposed car park lay-out will provide 130 spaces and seven mobility impaired parking spaces.

Senior planning officer Alicia Leathem told the committee meeting the proposed site is “an area of land zoned for airport use”. She indicated permission had been approved previously in 2018.

She noted an objection regarding a concern over road safety. However, she reported no objection from Department for Infrastructure Roads.

A recommendation to approve the application was proposed by Threemilewater Ulster Unionist Councillor Stephen Cosgrove, seconded by Threemilewater DUP Cllr Sam Flanagan and following a vote, it was approved unanimously.

According to a Pre-Application Community Consultation Report, the construction phase will support 30 jobs with 30 jobs expected to be created when the business is operational.

Tom McGrath, chair, of Belfast International Consultative Forum, said in the Pre-Application Community Consultation Report: “An 81-bed hotel will be a significant boost We have to build new facilities if we are to expand our tourism offer. As the airport grows, so too will demand for quality facilities. The 30 new jobs are important but there’s a whole supply chain that will also benefit.”

Bed Space

Richard Holmes, managing director of Sam Mouldings, commented: “We host customers to our Antrim factory on a regular basis and sometimes it’s difficult to secure accommodation nearby. Bed space is at a premium which is why we warmly welcome what we all see as a clear vote of confidence in the area.”

David Shaw, general manager Woodgate Aviation, stated: “The hotel directly mirrors the growth being experienced on the airport site. This proposed investment proves just how much an economic hub the airport is and what it’s capable of delivering for the wider Northern Ireland economy.”

Whitbread Plc, the parent company to Premier Inn, operates 82,700 hotel rooms in the UK and Ireland. Jill Anderson, property acquisition manager for Premier Inn, said previously: “I am looking forward to building the pipeline of new hotels in the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.”

In a statement issued after the meeting, the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper BEM, said: “This is a great boost for tourism in the borough offering more choice and improved convenience for visitors.

“With Northern Ireland proudly maintaining its standing as a major visitor destination, the option of affordable hotel accommodation will be an asset for the tourism industry.”

Chairman of the Planning Committee Macedon Ulster Unionist Cllr Robert Foster said: “This major investment in a prime location will be an asset to our borough and will enhance Antrim and Newtownabbey’s role in Northern Ireland’s success as a great place to visit.”

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter