Belfast Residents Win Appeal Over Victoria Square Claims

Residents of the Victoria Square apartment complex in Belfast have successfully reinstated their compensation claims after an appeal to the Court of Appeal for Northern Ireland. Initially dismissed by the High Court due to a six-year limitation period for defective premises claims, the residents' cases will now proceed to a full trial following the introduction of the Defective Premises Act (NI) 2024, which aligns Northern Ireland's laws with those in England and Wales. The residential development, completed in 2008, has been vacant since April 2019 due to major structural defects that forced all 91 residents to evacuate. The lawsuits, estimated to be worth up to £25 million, have been filed against the construction firms and architects involved in the development, who deny any liability. This legal victory is seen as a crucial step for the residents, who have faced significant uncertainty over their claims. The case's outcome is being closely monitored amid public sympathy for the affected residents.