1A Norfolk Parade is located off Glen Road in West Belfast, within a predominantly urban context comprising residential properties and local community services. The building previously operated as a GP surgery and is situated near other local amenities and transport links. The surrounding area is characterised by a mix of housing, small commercial units, and community facilities.

Site History and Past Use

Medical Practice History

Until late 2022, the building at 1A Norfolk Parade was used as a GP surgery, known as Glen Road Surgery (Dr Crossin & Partners), providing general medical services to the local population, including primary care and general practice appointments. The practice was registered at this address and served several thousand patients from the local area.

In 2022, services at the Glen Road Surgery location were consolidated into the main Carrick Hill Medical Centre, leading to the closure of the Norfolk Parade branch. This closure was attributed to operational challenges including GP shortages and staffing pressures, resulting in most patient services being relocated to the Carrick Hill facility.

Since closure, the property has remained unoccupied as a medical practice, though its exact use between closure and the current planning application is best understood as vacant or available for alternative use pending planning consent.

Prior to the submission of planning application LA04/2026/0072/F, the property has been marketed by Osborne King with a guide price of £175,000 as a former doctors’ surgery with on-site parking, suitable for alternative commercial or community uses subject to planning permission.

Description of the Proposal

In January 2026, Relatives for Justice submitted a planning application (LA04/2026/0072/F) proposing the following:

• Change of use of the existing building from its previous function as a doctors’ surgery (use class D1 / health) to a Relatives for Justice Community Advice Centre and office.

• Internal reconfiguration where necessary to facilitate community advice, administrative office space, and associated functions.

• Installation of a new access door on the southeast elevation of the building to support access requirements for the proposed use.

The application documentation indicates no physical expansion of the existing building footprint and states that the existing four car parking spaces on site will remain unchanged.

Relatives for Justice is a long-established support organisation that offers therapeutic support, advocacy, legal advice, family therapy, and community programmes. The organisation has existing offices within Belfast and elsewhere in Northern Ireland, and the proposed change of use aims to support expanded community outreach and service delivery.