Belfast council considers purchasing historic building

The historic Assembly Rooms in Belfast may soon be taken out of private ownership and bought by Belfast City Council.

A potential deal is being considered that could pave the way for the restoration of the derelict building, which dates back to the 18th Century.

It was 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 deal are confidential. The matter was discussed behind closed doors at a city council committee meeting on Friday.

Councillors are expected to meet again within the next seven days, and if it is agreed to make a formal bid for the Assembly Rooms, the move will need approval from the full council on 2 June.

The historic building belongs to Castlebrooke Investments, which is behind the delayed Tribeca development in Belfast’s 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 has been placed on a list of global ‘at risk’ heritage sites by the World Monuments Fund.

A Belfast City Council spokesperson confirmed talks have taken place with Castlebrooke, describing negotiations as “commercially sensitive” and to “remain confidential at this time”.

BBC News NI approached Castlebrooke Investments about the possible sale of the Assembly Rooms. The company made no comment.

The leader of the Alliance Party group at City Hall, Michael Long, said final details have yet to be worked out but he was “really hopeful” a deal could be done.

“The reality is that we now have an opportunity to take hold of the building, which is of great historic significance in Belfast.

“This will help to regenerate and revitalise this particular area of the city, which has suffered in recent years.

“So many buildings have been lost in Belfast, this is an opportunity to save this really important building.”

Green Party councillor Áine Groogan said she too is hopeful a deal can be done.

“There have been countless political discussions about this over the last number of years. I think there now seems to be a general political willingness and acknowledgement that this is important.

“The Assembly Rooms is a building that has massive cultural and historical significance for this city but it also has massive economic and regeneration potential.

“We have large parts of our city centre just sitting there derelict and really needing proper investment and that’s what I see this as.”

Politicians at Stormont are also keeping a close eye on the city centre development.

The SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole said work needs to be done to “unlock the economic and cultural potential of an area rich in history, not least in the enlightenment history of the Assembly Rooms”.