Plans to turn the Belfast Gasworks site into a cultural and commercial centre have moved a stage closer with the release of the final two sites. Submissions are being invited from developers for the Klondyke Building, a distinctive Victorian building on the Lower Ormeau Road, and an adjacent site of 1.5 acres.
According to Belfast City Council, the redevelopment of the entire 23-acre site could lead to the creation of up to 2,000 jobs. The cost of redevelopment is around £10 million sterling (€14.94 million), three-quarters of which has been provided by the European Regional Development Fund.
The deadline for submissions for the two sites is May 21st. Submissions should "contribute to the vitality of the site", and be in keeping with the overall objective for the Gasworks, which is to create a mix of commercial and community activity, with emphasis on job creation. Work is already under way at the site, under the control of urban regeneration specialists Cusp Ltd and the local community organisation Ormeau Enterprises. Cusp has started work on one 20,000 sq ft business unit and plans a phased development of further business units which will provide around 60,000 sq ft of office space.
When the site has been completed, it is expected to provide more than 400,000 sq ft of new accommodation.
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