£100m St Anne's Square 'Well Advanced'

Hundreds of much needed construction jobs have been realised during work on one of Belfast's latest property developments - with hundreds of permanent posts created once finished.

The work is already well advanced on the extensive £100 million leisure, commercial and residential development beside St Anne's Cathedral which will regenerate one of Belfast's most historically significant city centre sites.

Scheduled to open in summer 2009 the Saint Anne's Square development is being undertaken by Turnus Ltd - a joint venture company comprising leading urban regeneration specialists CUSP and the construction and development company, Kennedy Group.

The importance of the site in a conservation area required a design sensitive to the distinctive character of the Cathedral Quarter and in sympathy with the architecture of St Anne's Cathedral.

Such exacting design coupled with the mixed-use offer and the potential to create 300 jobs when fully operational, will create a development not only equipped to answer the social and economic needs of the area but also act as a catalyst for ongoing local regeneration.

It will comprise 30,000 square feet of ground floor bars and restaurants with 20,000 square feet of 'turnkey' offices at ground and first floor level.

Rising over four floors from the second level will be 103 residential apartments, which will be released in autumn this year.

The hospitality trade is also to be boosted with Northern Ireland's first Ramada 'Encore' Hotel set to anchor one corner of the scheme and offer 169 bedrooms and multi-purpose conference suites as well as bar and restaurant facilities.

Building work on the hotel is also progressing well with a scheduled opening in Spring 2009.

However, the focal point of the overall development will be a new 14,000 square foot European-style piazza (visualisation, pictured) - creating a new public space with potential for performing arts and events.

Complementing this mix of city centre living will be the MAC, billed as Belfast's forthcoming premier arts centre.

CUSP Chairman Shamus Jennings and Alistair Kennedy, Kennedy Group have said: "Saint Anne's Square will play an integral part in the regeneration of the Cathedral Quarter helping it to fulfil its enormous potential within the city.

"The combination of high quality apartments, cafes, restaurants, hotel, and the MAC, will together offer the ultimate self-contained lifestyle package where people can work, live and relax all in one location."

(PR/JM)(BMcC)