Hotel planned for old courthouse

Crumlin Road courthouse will become a luxury hotel

Plans are under way to turn one of Belfast's landmark buildings into a multi-million pound luxury hotel.

Crumlin Road courthouse has been out of use since 1998, but the present owner hopes to turn it into a 160-room hotel.

Thousands of republicans and loyalists were tried in the court during the Troubles.

The development of the building will cost £25m, create 200 full-time and part-time jobs and 300 jobs during construction.

Many of the listed building's original features will be kept including the two main courtrooms and an underground passage connecting the building to the former prison across the road.

It offers an excellent opportunity for luxury hotel operators to get into the burgeoning Northern Ireland business and tourism marketplace in an absolutely unique building Barry Gilligan Property developer

An application for government funding has been submitted.

The current owner, property developer Barry Gilligan, said the old court was "in a prime location".

"It offers an excellent opportunity for luxury hotel operators to get into the burgeoning Northern Ireland business and tourism marketplace in an absolutely unique building," he said.

However, before building work can start, a hotel operator and planning permission are needed, but it is hoped the hotel will open by March 2009.

The courthouse, designed by architect and one-time Lord Mayor of Belfast Sir Charles Lanyon, was completed in 1850 at a cost of £16,500.

Mountaineer and architect Dawson Stelfox has been engaged to design the new hotel.