The National Trust is to get a major facelift at its Divis and Black Mountain site.
The Belfast City Council Planning Committee has approved a planning application by the National Trust to refurbish and repurpose three buildings to provide visitor facilities such as a kiosk area, exhibition space, an accessible toilet and relocation of the existing café on site.
The proposal included enhancements to the existing pond network located at the visitor hub and improvements to the site such as paths, new routes, signs and furniture.
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Elected representatives at the February Planning Committee meeting held at City Hall this week approved the plan for Divis and The Black Mountain National Trust Site, Divis Road, Hannahstown, Belfast, BT17.
The site comprises 6.5 hectares of land, and is accessed from the Divis Road. There are a number of walking trails within the site.
Along the access road is a car park which contains a “traditional” old single storey building containing a café and two other old buildings currently in a state of disrepair.
The application seeks full planning permission for the refurbishing and repurposing of the three existing vernacular buildings to provide visitor facilities such as a kiosk area, exhibition space, an accessible toilet and the relocation of the existing café. A new building is to be constructed to provide amenity facilities.
Council officers recommend the plan for approval. The planning report states: “The proposal is considered to enhance the existing National Trust Site by enhancing the existing walking trails and the addition of new walking trails. The proposal will also provide signage and appropriate furniture to aid the visitor experience.”
It adds: “The proposed building is sympathetic to the rural character of the surrounding area and the refurbishment of existing buildings is welcomed and will contribute to enhancing the character of the area. The proposals are not considered to have significant impacts to the Belfast Hills Area or the Area of High Scenic Value.”
There were no objections from any of the statutory consultees, but there is one outstanding consultation from the Stormont Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs.
The report states: “DAERA’s Natural Environment Division and Water Management Unit requested further information which has been submitted and has been reconsulted. There was a significant delay in the response with the consultation issued on the 4th October 2024 and not received until the 17th January 2025 despite a previously successful PAD.
“Given the time funding pressures associated with the application and the delays in the initial response from DAERA, delegated authority is requested to deal with the outstanding consultation provided it raises no substantive issues.”
The report adds: “The proposed site is in a highly sensitive location designated as the Belfast Hills and an Area of High Scenic Value. Policies provide criteria to be met to ensure that proposals will not have a significant adverse impact on the landscape character.
“It is considered that the proposal will protect and enhance the landscape and visual character by works such as utilising existing buildings in disrepair, enhancing the existing network of trails, providing a net gain of trees, enhancing the biodiversity surrounding the existing visitor hub and integrating the proposed new building sensitively within the site.
“The proposals are considered to enhance the existing National Trust Site, improving accessibility and the visitor experience. Belfast Hills Partnership were consulted and supported the proposals.”
The report states that after public consultation between February and May last year a total of 85.5 percent of respondents were “very supportive or supportive of the proposals.”
Pics from Belfast Council, permitted use for all.
Captions by Michael Kenwood:
Divis and Black Mountain planning application
This will house the new cafe facility at the National Trust
Surrounding landscape to be used at Divis Black Mountain site
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