Geograph - photograph every grid square

The building, fronting Victoria Street, was built in 1851-52 to a design by Charles Lanyon, as the head office of the Northern Bank. When the Northern moved to new offices J3373 : Head office, Northern Bank, Belfast it was sold to the Trustee Savings Bank. After acquisition of the TSB’s interests in NI it passed to Allied Irish Banks and became the head office of AIB (UK) plc (trading in NI as the First Trust Bank). Although the main frontage is to Victoria Street the postal address was 4 Queen’s Square where there is a more recent extension. Both buildings are now (September 2013) vacant and offered for sale. The agents’ board describes them as an “Excellent refurbishment or redevelopment opportunity to alternative uses subject to planning”.
Note added 28 July 2015 - the site is the subject of the following application for planning permission “LA04/2015/0731/F 4 Queen's Square Belfast BT1 3DJ Retention, reuse and refurbishment of former bank building (listed building) for office use; demolition of modern extension building and redevelopment of site for new office building.” The photographs submitted by me appear as a matter of neutral record only and do not comment on the application. I have no connection with any of the parties involved in the proposed development.

The application has since been withdrawn: “With reference to the planning application number above, it is with regret that we wish to inform you of our decision to withdraw the planning application for the construction of an office scheme at 4 Queen Square. We and our agents have been negotiating with planning/ NIEA over the past 3 years and unfortunately the latest iteration of the design is a compromise position that does not fully satisfy either party. While we have attempted to present a number of options for the project, we have not been able to reconcile what we consider to be an economically viable new grade A office project, with the concerns of City Planning / NIEA” - applicant’s letter dated 30 August 2018 to Belfast City Council (available on the NI Planning Portal).

Created: Thu, 26 Sep 2013, Updated: Mon, 1 Oct 2018