Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today announced that the new building, developed by William Ewart Properties and known as Lanyon Towers, will be a mixed office, residential and leisure development.
“This new building represents a further phase in the regeneration of Belfast. It will add another prestigious development to this area, almost completes the complex around the Waterfront Hall and will act as a further lever for economic development,” the Minister said.
When completed the development will comprise 90,000 sq ft of office space, 5,500 sq ft of bar and restaurant facilities, 104 quality residential suites and an underground car park for 135 vehicles.
Emphasising the importance of the development to the regeneration of the city centre, the Minister said: “Integrating the riverfront with the city centre and nearby communities is an important feature of the Belfast City Centre Regeneration Framework and remains a key priority for my department.
“Lanyon Place has played a key role in this process, helping to link the riverfront to the city centre and also to surrounding communities. This latest development is a further example of the legacy of Laganside Corporation in contributing to the ongoing regeneration of Belfast’s riverfront. It marks another move forward by integrating a mixed use scheme into this lively commercial and leisure area. This development signifies once again that Belfast is providing an opportunity for people to work, live and relax within an attractive city centre neighbourhood.”
The development is due to be completed in autumn 2009 and it is estimated that 250 jobs will be created during the construction period. The Minister said: “In addition to making the city a more attractive place to live, work and visit, such regeneration also contributes to the development and growth of the local economy. Lanyon Towers is an excellent example of this with £45million investment to our economy.”
Nick Reid, Chief Executive of William Ewart Properties said: “Having invested over £100million on Lanyon Place already, we are delighted to take this next step to build out the second last plot within Belfast’s most prestigious address. Our commitment to working as a development partner with government and delivering on the regeneration potential of Belfast is very important to Ewart. Our role in this scheme and in our proposed Royal Exchange development of the North East Quarter of the Belfast City Centre are just two examples of the £1billion worth of development we will be delivering in our capital city over the next 10 years.
Acheson Elliott, Development Director of Ewart added: “Our experienced team will deliver a very high quality £45million mixed use development within a scheme that importantly integrates the city centre and the riverside into one linked and vibrant whole. We anticipate strong interest in both the residential and office elements of the scheme – partly because of the unique and iconic design and quality of the scheme which will be new to Belfast but also because of its superb location on the riverfront located within Belfast’s new business centre. The high specification apartments from the fifth to the 12th floor will provide panoramic views and are located adjacent to the Hilton Hotel, the Waterfront Hall and Central rail station and five minutes walk from Belfast’s newest shopping centre Victoria Square and the Odyssey leisure complex. The building teams are now on site and we expect to be completed in about 18 months’ time.”
Notes to Editors:
- The Laganside Corporation entered into a development agreement with William Ewart Property Limited to develop 8 Lanyon Place. Following the dissolution of the Laganside Corporation on 1st July 2007, DSD have taken responsibility for the Development Agreement.
- The development is due to complete in Autumn 2009.
- Media Enquiries – contact the DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
