McAleer & Rushe has secured planning approval from Belfast City Council for the second phase of its Bedford Square scheme, paving the way for over 19,974m² (215,000ft²) of new grade-A office space for the city.
Phase two of the city centre development consists of a new 17-storey office building providing 16963m² (182,598ft²) of grade-A office accommodation, as well as the refurbishment of the listed William Ewart building to create a further 3,246m² (34,942ft²) of space.
The first phase of the project was completed in 2006 and is home to the headquarters of Invest Northern Ireland, with the latest buildings located on adjacent sites and arranged around a new landscaped public piazza to provide high-quality public realm in the heart of Belfast city centre.
Stephen Surphlis, property director at McAleer & Rushe, said: “This planning approval is a welcome boost to the Belfast office market, with the second phase of Bedford Square bringing a landmark building back into active use after many years of vacancy and helping to alleviate the shortage of grade-A space in the city.
“The first phase of Bedford Square has been a great success and we now have the opportunity to complete the vision with the creation of much-needed business space and new public realm which, together with our Maldron Hotel and QUB student accommodation developments on the adjoining Brunswick Street site, will make a huge contribution to the regeneration of Belfast’s Linen Quarter and this part of the city.”
McAleer & Rushe is in discussions with potential office occupiers for phase two of Bedford Square, with work expected to commence on site in the coming months.
