The demolition of the home of one of Belfast's most famous adopted sons has been slammed as “sacrilege” by the chairman of a local residents' group fighting to save the cottages.

Gustav Wolff set up home along the Palmerston Road living on an estate called the Den, while he headed up the most well-known shipyard in the world. After decades of development all that is now left of his sprawling estate are two unique 19th century cottages.

Plans have been submitted for the demolition of the two cottages and neighbouring houses along the Holywood Road to be replaced with five separate apartment blocks totalling 34 apartments.

Such is the level of concern over the proposed demolition The CT has learned Environment and Heritage Services chiefs visited the site yesterday (Wednesday, January 23).

Heritage bosses were examining the cottages to see if they can be ‘spot listed' which means demolition would be halted and what remains of Wolff's home would be legally protected.

Speaking before the visit of the heritage officials, Terry Hoey, chairman of the Palmerston Road Residents' Association, said: “We hope the cottages make the spot listed criteria. I'm glad to see environmental heritage coming out and looking at the issue before it becomes too late. When I talked with someone from the Heritage office he couldn't believe that these cottages were in Northern Ireland. He was bowled over by them when I sent photographs of them to the office three months ago. So we are hopeful we'll get a positive result.”

Mr Hoey said he was “surprised” and “disappointed” by the lack of response from local politicians he said he contacted over the proposed demolition.

“I sent emails to all east Belfast politicians last Saturday to make them aware of the plans and raise our concerns about this history being wiped out forever, but I've yet to receive any response from anyone.

"I'm surprised and disappointed, especially with the emergence of the Titanic Quarter and the booming tourism industry that they don't seem interested in saving this last piece of remaining history.

“We are doing our best to attract visitors here but all the history of the area, as well as Northern Ireland, is being eradicated if these buildings are wiped out.”

The campaigner blasted: “It is not that we are against development, that has to go on in this day and age, but this development will wipe out the last remaining part of Gustav Wolff's home. Look what he did building up the city, yet we aren't even marking him in any way, instead this development would wipe him from our landscape. It would be a sacrilege.”

In last week's CT the residents' association raised its fears over Wolff's historical home being in danger from development. Its concerns came in the wake of the Palmerston Road Victorian home of William Smiles, who co-founded the world-renowned Belfast Ropework Company with Gustav Wolff, being completely demolished last year.

An advertisement for the proposed demolition and replacement apartment complex appeared in papers last Friday (January 18). A Planning Department spokeswoman said anyone wishing to raise objections had 14 days from the date of the advertisement to do so.