£75m Redevelopment Of Former Telegraph Building Approved

Plans for a £75 million redevelopment of the former Belfast Telegraph building have been approved by the Belfast City Council's planning committee.

The mixed-use scheme at The Sixth, on Belfast's Royal Avenue includes 230,000 square feet of creative workspace, alongside 'active' ground floor uses such as cafés, restaurants, retail units and a roof-top running track.

Designed by Stirling Prize-winning architectural practice Alford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), the centre will accommodate 2,000 high value jobs as part of an emerging creative district.

The plans were prepared by Bel Tel LLP, a first of its kind joint venture between McAleer & Rushe and Belfast City Council, and approved on Tuesday 19 February. 

Built in 1886, the building was home to the Belfast Telegraph newspaper for over 100 years, before it moved to its new premises at Clarendon Dock in June 2016.

Highlighting the venture as progress on the redevelopment of the city, Councillor Matt Garrett, chair of the Planning Committee, said: "The Sixth occupies a strategic location on Royal Avenue that will be a catalyst for further regeneration, bringing a historic heritage building back into use as a forward-thinking workspace for creative businesses. 

"The scheme has been specifically designed to respect the existing built heritage in this part of the city, which is set to be further transformed over the next two to three years, and The Sixth will build on the momentum already generated by the Ulster University investment."

On behalf of Bel Tel LLP, Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, said: "The aim of this joint venture is a strategic investment in the city, delivering workspace of a world class scale and quality for local or international occupiers seeking accommodation in the city core.

"Council has a particular focus on wellness and wellbeing within the Belfast Agenda, and the inclusion of a roof-top running track as part of this development, highlights the evolving nature and role of workspace in the city centre. By planning for the future, The Sixth will create real estate that better reflects how and where we work, whilst also bringing back into life a building of significance to our city and media's commercial heritage."

Also speaking on behalf of the joint venture, Stephen Surphlis, Property Director McAleer & Rushe, added to Ms Wylie's comments. He said: "We are extremely pleased that councillors have supported our plans, and have supported the officer's recommendation to approve our application. We look forward to beginning work on site, and announcing occupiers for the building in the near future.

"Bel Tel LPP assembled an experienced team to bring forward proposals that underlined a balance between the heritage of the listed building and the future regeneration of this part of the city. They have been informed by productive discussion and constructive feedback from council planners, the Historic Environment Division and other statutory consultees over the past 12 months."

In addition to AHMM, the supporting project team includes national planning and development consultancy Turley, Sort Design and commercial agents CBRE and Lisney.

A short video has been released by the partnership which highlights The Sixth, and will be shown at property and development conference MIPIM in Cannes next month.



(JG/MH)