PHASE two of the biggest-ever high-specification office development in Northern Ireland is expecting to see the first tenants through the doors within weeks.
The keys of the £22 million City Quays 2 at Belfast Harbour were handed over yesterday by Lagan building contractors, who completed the scheme in just under 18 months.
It's the second office building in the Harbour's £250 million City Quays development scheme, which will include close to half a million square feet of grade A office space (work on the 250,000 sq ft City Quays phase three will start early next year).
The 124,000 sq ft nine-storey City Quays 2 - which will accommodate up to 1,000 people when fully let - is expected to go a long way towards meeting the shortfall of high-end office space in Belfast.
Belfast Harbour refused to comment on prospective tenants at City Quays 2, which joins the fully occupied City Quays 1 office building.
But it is already known that UTV is moving from Havelock House on Belfast's Ormeau Road to set up its new base at City Quay 2, complete with HD studios, edit suites, corporate offices and news, administration, finance and sales areas.
London-based financial services giant Tullett Prebon is also expected to set up its new technology hub there in a move that could create 300 jobs, while speculation is increasing that the U105 radio station will also move from its current base to the riverfront.
Belfast Harbour chief executive Roy Adair said: “We're delighted with market demand for City Quays office space.
“Since we began marketing it, interest has been consistently strong, particularly from North America, GB and locally, and a number of parties have already made initial approaches about City Quays 3.”
Construction of City Quays 2, which is designed to the highest international sustainability accreditation, supported 600 construction jobs.
