Building work at decade high in Belfast
New report shows construction industry levels on the up and up
Construction in Belfast is at its highest level in nearly a decade, it emerged today.
According to the first Belfast Crane Survey report produced by Deloitte Real Estate 11 new development schemes were completed in the city during 2016.
These included two hotels.
A further six hotels boasting more than 1,000 rooms are currently under construction.
A total of of 30 schemes are under construction or just recently completed in the city, including the eight hotels, four new educational facilities, seven new student accommodation projects and six office developments.
Simon Bedford, partner in Deloitte's Real Estate practice, said the report shows that Belfast is on an upward trajectory as a location for investment and development.
Ulster University's move to a larger campus in Belfast has seen a number of student housing schemes already being built.
The report calculates that almost 2,500 student accommodation bed-spaces across seven major projects are currently being built in the city centre area.
This is in addition to 413 bed-spaces that completed in 2016.
Queen's University is also continuing its investment in new teaching facilities and supporting new student residential development in the city centre.
Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of Belfast City Council, said: “The report demonstrates that private sector developers and investors see the opportunities being created by a growth in tourism, new companies locating here, growth in our own business base and more people, including students, wanting to live in the city centre.''