7 December 2005
LISTED ORMEAU ROAD BLOCK GETS £1.4M RESTORATION
A historic Georgian terrace on Belfast's Ormeau Road has literally risen from the ashes to a new life as an office block.
The building, opposite the former North of Ireland cricket grounds, was originally private housing but was later headquarters for the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) before suffering from vandalism and fire damage. Now it has been restored in its original character including sash windows and has the potential to create up to 60 jobs in an area of disadvantage.
The project is an excellent example of public and private enterprise. An Urban Development grant of £280,000 was awarded by the Department for Social Development's (DSD's) Belfast Regeneration Office and this was more than matched by private investment to a combined total of £1.4million.
Alan Shannon, Permanent Secretary at the DSD visited the building today and met the developer, Mr Peadar Quinn. After seeing at first hand the result of significant public and private sector enterprise in this B1 listed building, Mr Shannon said:
"This development shows the growing confidence in the Ormeau Road area and it preserves a very fine listed building for the benefit of the local community and others. Geda Construction has managed to combine the historical character of this building with modern office specifications.
"The redevelopment of this once-neglected property brings a historic building back into commercial use and creates the opportunity for up to 60 new jobs in a very needy area. It is a great example of partnership between DSD's Belfast Regeneration Office and the private sector. "
The refurbishment provides 9,235 sq ft of office space for letting. In addition to the environmental improvement for the area, the project has potential to create up to 60 jobs in a high priority area.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
GEDA Construction has more than 20 years experience as a main contractor. First developed as a civil engineering company specialising in the water industry, Geda broadened its scope to contracts for Roads Service, mainly in the structural field including bridges, retaining walls and culverts, together with ancillary roadworks and more recently has established a strong building division.
1. The Urban Development Grant Scheme (UDG) aims to promote job creation, inward investment and economic and physical regeneration of inner city areas by the stimulation of private enterprise and investment through the development of vacant, derelict or underused land or buildings.
2. The UDG scheme is an instrument within the DSD People and Place Strategy for delivering Neighbourhood Renewal. It is available for physical development projects in sectors such as inner/middle city housing, commercial, retail and light industrial. Since the April 2000 £10.8 million of Urban Development Grant in Belfast has levered in Private Sector investment of £46.4 million from 91 projects.
3. The redevelopment and refurbishment has provided 9,235 sq ft of office space for letting.
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