LAGAN Construction Group has announced plans to build a new head office in Belfast's Titanic quarter.
The building group which took over H&J Martin earlier this year, are planning a 40,000 sq ft extension to its premises at Rosemout House.
The new centre at Sydenham Road will provide a workplace for some 250 employees relocated from H&J Martin offices.
Overall the headquarters will accommodate up to 400 employees at the construction firm which has an annual turnover in excess of £300m.
Lagan Construction Group chief executive Colin Loughran said the plans "represent a major investment from the private sector into the local economy and a vital development for Lagan Construction Group as we seek to progress our growing business ambitions and increase turnover".
“Following our acquisition of H&J Martin and our desire to have a central hub for all our operations, we have outgrown our current office provision - and this application represents the next stage in our business growth. With the site benefitting from excellent transport connections immediately adjacent to Belfast city centre, the proposal is a sustainable form of development," he said.
The company said it planned to redevelop H&J Martin's existing headquarters on Ormeau Road at a later.
It continues to trade under the H&J Martin name.
Lagan acquired H&J Martin in April in a move that safeguarded around 900 jobs.
H&J Martin was founded in 1840 and has worked on some of the north's most iconic buildings including the Grand Opera House, Belfast City Hall and the Slieve Donard Hotel.
However, in recent years it has suffered as a result of the economic downturn and incurred major losses on projects in Romania and Azerbaijan.
Later that same month, Lagan announced it had won a joint bid with Portugese firm Somague for the £150m contract to complete the second phase Ulster University's new Belfast campus.
Work on the £250m 800,000 sq ft development started last year and is expected to finish in 2018.
Phase two will see two new blocks developed on York Street, directly opposite the existing campus.
Another major contract secured jointly with Hillsborough based building firm Hillsborough last year saw Lagan secure a £100m deal to work on a major marine project in Hull.
Associated British Ports (ABP) chose the consortium to redevelop a dock over the next two years which will eventually be used as a wind turbine factory.
