The Mayfair Buildings, a Grade B1 listed building, occupy a prominent position at the junction of Arthur Square and William Street South, in the heart of Belfast’s primary commercial and retail core. Arthur Square forms part of a highly pedestrianised network connecting Donegall Place, Cornmarket, Castle Lane and the wider Linen and Cathedral Quarters. The surrounding area is characterised by high footfall, a dense mix of retail units, cafés, restaurants, cultural venues and civic buildings.

The site is strategically located within walking distance of major transport hubs, including Belfast Grand Central Station and Lanyon Place Station, and benefits from extensive bus connectivity via Donegall Square and surrounding streets. The area is subject to parking restraint policies and is designed to prioritise pedestrian movement and public transport accessibility.

Conservation Area Context

The building lies within the Belfast City Centre Conservation Area, where development is required to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the historic environment. The surrounding townscape includes a concentration of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century commercial buildings, many of which are listed or locally important.

The Mayfair Buildings contribute significantly to the architectural enclosure and historic character of Arthur Square, forming a key visual reference point due to their corner turret, gabled elevations, red-brick construction and distinctive “Mayfair” lettering integrated into the façade.

Description of the Existing Building

Architectural Form and Appearance

The Mayfair Buildings were constructed between 1906 and 1907, designed by the Belfast architectural practice Blackwood & Jury and built by Robert Corry. The building is a substantial Edwardian commercial structure of red brick with sandstone detailing, exhibiting strong Art Nouveau influences.

Key architectural features include:

• Red-brick façades with horizontal sandstone banding

• Decorative stone quoins and pilasters

• A prominent octagonal corner turret with ogee roof

• Gabled elevations with curved stone string courses

• Original timber sash windows of varying forms

• Ornamental ironwork to eaves brackets and rainwater goods

The building rises to four storeys with attic accommodation and was originally designed with ground-floor retail units and office accommodation above, a common typology within Belfast city centre during the early twentieth century.

Later Extension Along William Street South

In 1975, planning permission was granted for a significant extension along William Street South. This later phase introduced a curved frontage and open-plan office floors constructed using mid-twentieth-century concrete framing methods. While architecturally more restrained than the original Edwardian block, the extension respects the overall height, scale and building line of the street.

The extension incorporated updated service cores, staircases and fire escape routes to comply with contemporary standards at the time. It now forms an integral part of the overall building and accommodates a significant proportion of the upper-floor floor area proposed for conversion under the current application mayfair design and access c.

Current Use of the Site

Ground Floor

The ground floor of the Mayfair Buildings remains in active retail use, with individual shop units fronting Arthur Square and William Street South. These units form part of Belfast’s established city-centre retail environment and are occupied by a range of commercial operators.

The current application proposes no change to the use of the majority of ground-floor units. One small retail unit fronting William Street South is proposed to be repurposed internally to create a dedicated entrance lobby to serve the upper-floor hostel accommodation.

Upper Floors

The upper floors are currently used as offices (Class B1) or are vacant. The internal layouts reflect a combination of historic cellular office arrangements within the original building and larger open-plan floors within the 1975 extension. Over time, demand for such accommodation has declined, resulting in underutilisation of the upper floors.

Proposed Development

In November 2025, Alterity Investments submitted a planning application (LA04/2025/1911/F) seeking permission for:

• Change of use of existing upper floors from offices (Class B1) to hostel accommodation

• Provision of 136 bedspaces, arranged across multiple floors

• Associated communal lounges, kitchens, sanitary facilities and wellness spaces

• Internal reconfiguration of existing floorplates

• Creation of a new entrance lobby at ground-floor level within one existing retail unit

• Minor external alterations limited to new door openings

No increase in building footprint, height or massing is proposed, and the external envelope is largely retained. The proposed hostel development will be operated by Revolver Hostels.

Internal Arrangement

The hostel accommodation is distributed across the upper floors, with a mix of:

• Pod-style dormitory accommodation

• Private double and family rooms

• En-suite and shared sanitary facilities

• Communal lounges and shared kitchens

• Ancillary spaces including laundry, storage and staff facilities

Wellness and recreational facilities, including a gym and spa-related spaces, are also proposed at upper levels, consistent with contemporary hostel models operating in city-centre locations.

Historical Development of the Site

Pre-1906 History

Prior to the construction of the Mayfair Buildings, the site was occupied by smaller-scale buildings including the Talbot Bar and a City Toilet Club, reflecting the dense and functional nature of Belfast’s historic core during the nineteenth century. Arthur Square itself has origins linked to Belfast’s early market and trading activity and has been a recognised civic space since at least the early nineteenth century.

Twentieth-Century Occupation

Since completion, the Mayfair Buildings have been in continuous commercial use. The ground-floor units have hosted a succession of retail tenants, while the upper floors accommodated offices for professional services, civic organisations and commercial enterprises. Notable historic occupants included solicitors, tailors, cafés, manufacturers and political organisations.

The building was listed in 1979, reflecting growing recognition of its architectural and historic value. Despite this, the internal accommodation has been subject to change over time, with proposals periodically brought forward to adapt the upper floors to new uses.

Planning History

The site has a documented planning history that includes:

• Approvals for shopfront alterations and retail fit-outs

• Internal office reconfigurations

• Building services upgrades

• A 1999 planning permission for the conversion of upper floors to student accommodation, which was not implemented

The current proposal continues a long-standing pattern of seeking to reuse the upper floors for alternative, more viable uses, while retaining retail activity at ground level.