Business

Erskine House embarks on final stages of development

Construction work has been formally completed at Erskine House n Belfast city centre
Construction work has been formally completed at Erskine House n Belfast city centre Construction work has been formally completed at Erskine House n Belfast city centre

CONSTRUCTION work has been completed at Erskine House in Belfast, which is due to open in December and become the third of HM Revenue and Customs' 13 new UK regional centres.

Contractors Graham handed over a ceremonial key to HMRC’s regional implementation lead Tina Gallagher, and the project has now progressed to the fit-out phase.

That contract has also gone to Graham, whose interior fit-out division will be responsible for fitting the internal walls, ceilings, reception, lighting and fixings.

Around 1,900 full-time equivalent HMRC staff will be based in the Belfast region, serving the whole of Northern Ireland.

A short distance from Great Victoria Street railway station, HMRC will be the major occupier the 104,052 sq ft seven-storey building (the ground floor will be available for commercial lettings).

Tina Gallagher said: “This is a significant milestone for HMRC, which will bring together more than 1,600 colleagues into Erskine House.

“The department has a large and long established presence in Northern Ireland and the new regional centre in Belfast demonstrates our commitment to the region and its economy.”

Mark Gibson, managing director of the interior fit-out division at Graham, added: “We're delighted to work with HMRC on its ‘Estates Transformation Project’, which future proofs its estate. Having picked up the baton from our building colleagues, Erskine House is a significant contract and securing this contract is a major endorsement of our interior fit-out division.”

Kevin McNaull, senior project manager of Turner & Townsend, said: “This is an exciting stage of the development and I’m pleased we have been part of it from the concept stage, working with HMRC, the landlord and contractors to ensure that the aspirations for this new regional centre are realised.

“We are embracing innovations in technology, digital design and construction practices enabling the project to maintain momentum, whilst delivering value for money.”