Plans for a new private medical hospital on the site of a former retail warehouse took a step forward on Tuesday after Belfast City Council’s planning committee voted in favour of the project.
The facility on the Boucher Road site, once occupied by B&Q, is being developed by Belfast venture capitalists, Norlin, with one of Europe’s largest private healthcare company with Affidea, running the operation.
Affidea Ireland runs 16 facilities across the island, including three in the north, Hillsborough Private Clinic, Orthoderm and an MRI scanning clinic on Belfast’s Malone Road, These are among 334 facilities across Europe.
Belfast City Council announced on social media on Tuesday: “Green light is given to a planning application for a new private medical facility/hospital on the site of the former B&Q retail warehouse on the Boucher Road.”
The council’s planning officials had previously recommended approval, arguing the “proposed operator undertakes significant work with the NHS in relation to its waiting lists and will address more complex elective cases”.
Patients will include those “currently on multi-year waiting lists including orthopaedics and endoscopy,” according to the officials.
According to Affidea, it is expected 160 jobs will be created, with the company adding it will provide Belfast with “one of Europe’s leading orthopaedics centres of excellence, the most modern diagnostic imaging suite on the island and a minor injuries inpatient service”. The plans also includes 74 recovery overnight beds for overnight residential care.
Norlin, the owner of the site, is headed by Richard Irwin and Stephen Symington, whose other investments include Belfast’s new Titanic Distillery.