Work begins on £1 billion Titanic project

Work has begun on the biggest ever property development scheme in Northern Ireland's history.

The £1 billion Titanic Quarter project will see the 185-acre docklands site be transformed into a residential, commercial and leisure hub over a 20-year period.

The plans include 3,000 homes, along with office and commercial developments that could employ up to 20,000 people. However, the most impressive feature will see an ambitious heritage project at the site where the Titanic was built and which will include a full-scale skeletal model of the liner.

Secretary of State Peter Hain launched Phase One of the development, at the 'Launch of an Icon' event on Tuesday. There, he visited the old Harland and Wolff Headquarters Building and Drawing Office in Belfast’s docklands which will form part of the 75 hectare development.

“The Titanic Quarter is a graphic reminder that the economic world does not stand still. However the scale of the opportunity for employment, housing, investment and regeneration on this site in East Belfast is enormous," Mr Hain said.

“There have already been major changes as a result of Government’s powerful vision for the regeneration of the Greater Belfast area, through a decade of investment in Laganside, the flagship scheme underway at Victoria Square and the Public Realm strategy.

“We now have the opportunity to build on this momentum to re-establish Belfast and Northern Ireland as a great place to visit, invest in and above all to live in.

“Investment in the site is expected to be around £1 billion, with potential for some 20,000 jobs by 2020. Our shared vision is that the whole Titanic Quarter development will make a unique contribution to regenerate and revitalise this site and contribute to a more prosperous future for Northern Ireland.”

The Lord Mayor of Belfast said Titanic Quarter was an "unparalleled opportunity to put our best foot forward - a chance to show the world that we can regenerate our industrial core with a style and panache that belies the image that many people overseas have of this City".

Speaking at today's event, he said: “The vision that has been put forward is just a vital first step towards achieving an exciting attraction that will capture the imagination of people in Northern Ireland and across the world."

"The planned rolling out of the vision is grounded in reality and we’re will be working actively in the coming months and years to ensure we build a world class attraction that will further cement Belfast’s growing reputation as a major city for tourism."

Work to clear the 185-acre docklands site has been under way since the proposals were announced in March.

It is hoped the attraction will be open by 2012, the 100th anniversary of Titanic's launch.

(MB/GB)