Transforming County Antrim Hotel Into NI’s Gleneagles

An investment plan of £20 million for transforming the former County Antrim hotel, Hilton Hotel, into Northern Ireland’s Gleneagles is in the running.

The former Hilton Hotel is located in Templepatrick and was given a green light for transformation in the meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee that took place on Monday evening.

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The transformation would include facilities like 304 car parking spaces, landscaping, log cabins, a manager’s lodge, glamping pods, and a full ground floor expansion with a function room and conservatory. All alterations would take place in a 68-suite extension of the Kingfisher Hotel at Paradise Walk.

The planning officer of the site assured that the design of the proposed project is a true “reflection of the existing hotel”.

The officer also mentioned that the changed County Antrim hotel would inculcate shepherds’ huts and cabins that are entirely designed for the sole purpose of catering to the manager’s dwelling. The hotel extensions are an “acceptable design appropriate to the site”, she said.

The proposal of a separate two-storey building for the manager’s dwelling is also “acceptable”, according to the site’s regulations.

Her reason for explaining the acceptable parts of the proposed project was to nullify a total of 14 objections that were received over the plan’s execution. The objections were regarding the over-development of the area that would adversely affect the area’s character and the existing infrastructure.

The officer reassured that the County Atrium hotel plan would have “no detrimental impact on neighbouring properties”.

Additional details of the transformation of County Antrim hotel

A report about the plan was submitted to the committee in which a proposed sun room was mentioned. It is considered an extension of the plan and would be formed within the existing hotel building.

The report also cited that the ground floor would have a function room, ground floor toilets, cloakrooms and storage within the accommodation. A further addition of 20 bedroom suites on the first, second and third floors are stated whereas the remaining eight suites are to be built on the fourth floor.

The existing building of County Antrim hotel has a driving range building which would be replaced with glamping cabins, expected to be located to the north-west of the extension.

Additional plans of the extension entail ten shepherds’ huts on the south-west of the building. An interesting feature of these huts would be that they would be on wheels with a curved rook. They would be used as living or kitchen areas with a shower room and bedroom.

Another grand part would be the three log cabins with eight glamping pods in the same extension. They would offer two bedrooms, a shower room and a living area.

Speaking at the Monday evening meeting, the applicant Patrick Keaney was content that the committee has been “very supportive” and is looking forward to the redevelopment plan of cost £14 million. He stressed that it would be a complete refurbishment of the rooms, restrooms and the golf course, all-inclusive.

Mr Keaney was of the view, “We want to mimic Gleneagles in Scotland. There is no reason why Northern Ireland can’t have a destination like Gleneagles”.

Also, he guaranteed that the redevelopment plan would create 120 jobs and more than 50 construction jobs. The plan is expected to cost between £14 million to £20 million which is a second phase of the renovation of the hotel.

Planning agent, Stephen Blaney also remarked that it is a huge investment that has never been made for this hotel before. It would be a great addition to the vicinity of tourists who are attracted to this “enhanced offering” and this is what the locals should be looking forward to.