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Ulster University Belfast campus two years behind schedule

How the completed UU project in Belfast will look when work on the project is complete
How the completed UU project in Belfast will look when work on the project is complete How the completed UU project in Belfast will look when work on the project is complete

A MULTI-million pound building project which will see thousands of students brought into Belfast is now running two years behind - and costs are rising.

The Irish News first revealed last year that the Ulster University (UU) venture - the largest of its kind in the north - was running at least a year behind schedule.

It has now emerged that the project will now not be complete until 2020.

Construction work is continuing to transform the 'art college' campus on York Street, at the top of Royal Avenue.

This will see most courses transfer from Jordanstown to central Belfast and student numbers in the city rise from 2,000 to 15,000.

Late 2018 was an agreed "key milestone" - the date on which work was expected to be complete. However, the university later took the decision to welcome students only at the start of the 2019 academic year. No explanation for this delay was provided.

Now, UU has said that it will only welcome staff and students for the first full teaching year in autumn 2020.

The university dismissed previous claims of a five year delay as "absolute nonsense" - but the project is at least two years behind schedule.

In addition, the total estimated cost has increased from £250 million to £263m.

The first phase of construction at UU is already complete and open.

A joint venture between Lagan Construction Group and Portuguese firm Somague Group, was awarded a £150m contract - part of the initial overall £250m - for phase two.

It will see new blocks developed on York Street, directly opposite the existing campus building. The former Co-op/Interpoint, Orpheus and Metropole buildings have all been demolished as part of the project.

A UU spokeswoman said following the opening of the initial phase of the development in October 2015, the first block of the second phase of the new campus was "scheduled to be delivered to the original timeframe next autumn".

"Together these signal the impact, high quality and vision of the emerging city campus," she said.

"On any large scale construction project, adjustments to timeframes are to be expected. Our lead contractor's programme identifies delivery of phase two construction works of the new Belfast campus to completion by late 2019, following which our staff and students will begin to occupy the new buildings on campus.

"Relocation from Jordanstown campus will be phased around the University calendar and operations. Precise timings will be confirmed as we progress through the final stages of the build. We look forward to all staff and students being on the new state-of-the-art campus for the first full teaching year from autumn 2020."

The university was unable to clarify whether any students would move in the 2019/20 academic year.