Wilton House

Residential development

5-6 College Square North, BT1 6BB

About Wilton House

Wilton House is a four storey grade B1 listed building that forms part of a terrace of Georgian properties at College Square North. It was designed in the early 1830s by Thomas Jackson, a young Waterford-born architect. The site occupies a 0.055 hectare footprint.

Wilton House was originally constructed as two houses, however, towards the end of the 19th century, the pair of houses were combined into one to operate as the Hotel Metropole by Mr J Hicks. In 1907, it began to be used as a mission hall for the Adult Deaf and Dumb Organisation which through various incarnations remained on the site until 2011. Since then it has sat empty and fell into dereliction. The site was sold in 2018.

In June 2013, Mount Charles Properties LLP submitted a planning application (Z/2013/0667/F) proposing refurbishment and alterations to Wilton House; to comprise of conservation works to both the internally and externally including upgrade of roof. Refurbishments and alterations of rear return roof and facades to include insertion of lift shaft, windows and first floor mezzanine; also new boundary walls and gates to rear and side. Mount Charles Properties LLP also sought listed building consent (Z/2013/0665/LBC) proposing refurbishment and alterations to B1 listed Wilton House consisting of roof upgrades, new rear extension, new windows, gates, walls and piers. These application were approved in December 2013.

In August 2018, Wilton Group Limited submitted a planning application (LA04/2018/2097/F) proposing change of use & refurbishment of Wilton House to provide 8 apartments including alterations to rear & side elevation of Wilton House and demolition of existing rear return & erection of new build 5 storey residential development to provide 23 dwellings. The application was approved in February 2021, despite recommendations to refuse the application by council officers. The application was recommended for refusal by planning officers for multiple reasons. The proposed new build at the rear was seen as ‘over-dominant’ in relation to Wilton House and the adjacent terrace, and would be ‘detrimental’ to the look of the street. However, councillors stated that the building was "at risk of going into rack and ruin" and that "there is an urgency here in getting this building back into use".

In 2022 , the property was purchased by investor and entrepreneur Justin Quirk. The Wilton House redevelopment was completed and opened in March 2023 as 23 serviced apartments.

Project Information

Start Date

December 2021

Completion Date

March 2023

Units

23

Cost

£4,500,000.00

Floors

5

Planning References

Project Team

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