Hedley Planning Services has submitted plans for a multi-million pound mixed residential and hospitality development on the site of the former Allied Irish Bank (AIB) North East office.

The site, which has stood vacant for over eight years at 9 – 17 Collingwood Street, will be transformed by developers Portland Real Estate Group into a ground and mezzanine floor bar and restaurant complex for 100 diners.

Twelve serviced apartments will also be built above on the first and third floors, providing high quality accommodation to meet the strong demand for city centre living space.

An onsite concierge, a gym and cycle storage are also planned as part of an ambitious project that will see the existing frontage and most of the infrastructure retained, while the overall space is boosted by the addition of a third-floor extension to the rear façade.

Mohsin Rashid, director of Portland Real Estate Group, said: “This is a prestigious project that will see the transformation of a great city centre location, breathing new life into a site that has been left vacant for years and transforming it into one that will offer a desirable location where people can stay and experience the city at its best.”

Sean Hedley said: “This is a great development that represents a significant contribution to the vibrancy and vitality of an important local economic sector, bringing a well known site back into use. It’s in a really attractive location, with good transport links nearby as well as being within easy walking distance to a range of facilities and services.”

Onsite work is expected to start in September if plans get the green light with the first tenants expected to start to move in early 2022.