New Tower Plans For Belfast

The tallest building in Belfast and indeed Northern Ireland, the under construction Obel, could soon be joined by a neighbour if plans to build a tower at Queens Quay are realised.Developed by the Sheridan Group and designed by architects, Broadway Malyan in partnership with Robinson McIlwaine, the development will contain a landmark residential tower, new office-space, a hotel plus retail and leisure outlets taking advantage of the dockside location and the prime location between the Kings and Queens Bridges that cross the River Lagan.The plans are to build the development in three phases starting with the six to eight floor blocks along the main waterfront that will be residential, retail and leisure. The second phase will see a 25 floor largely residential tower standing over a lower-rise podium whilst the final phase will develop the part of the site that is further back from the dock for office use. In doing so this approach unites three sites into one integral whole rather than seeing them develop in a piecemeal and disjointed manner that would both architectural harmony and consistent planning approach.Development of this area is already proving hugely popular. The 81 metre tall Obel sold all the apartments within in a little over 24 hours of them going on the market showing developers that there is a desperate demand for modern city living that can be easily satisfied in Belfast, and no more so than at attractive dockside locations. Work is set to begin onsite in early 2007 with the first phase being completed in 2008, the schedule of the following two will obviously depend on the success of the first, something that seems a near certainty in booming Belfast.