NO businesses have yet pledged to take up residence at the new multi-million pound Giants Park development it can be revealed.
Belfast City Council has confirmed that while there has been "strong interest" the 340-acre site on the North Foreshore of Belfast Lough remains vacant.
The former landfill site developed by the council and part funded by Invest NI (£1.6m) and the European Regional Development Fund (£2.2m) offers 200 acres of commercial development land, a £20 million film studio complex and the north's first green technologies hub.
Investors have said the Cleantech Hub - a business cluster for companies working in the environmental sector housed on 40 acres of the southern portion of Giant’s Park - will create 330 jobs and generate in the region of £88 million private sector investment for Belfast.
Belfast City Council has said it may be in a position to announce new tenants in the "near future".
"Marketing of sites in the Cleantech Hub through our appointed agents, Lisney, is ongoing," a council spokesman told the Irish News.
"There has been strong interest registered with Lisney and we are in discussions with a number of parties. Whilst no business has yet commenced development on the site, it is hoped to be in a position to progress agreements around a number of interests, pending receipt of firm offers in the near future. Obviously, it is not possible to disclose the identity of individual respondents to this Expressions of Interest process."
In relation to the 200 acres of commercial land in the north and west of the site the council has said there is a "good level of interest".
"In respect of marketing the 200 acres of the northern and western lands, a separate Expressions of Interest process is being handled by our appointed agents GVA," the Council said.
"This is a two phase approach, initially seeking submissions of high-level concept proposals. The closing date for this first phase of marketing is May 19 and in advance of this our agent has indicated a good level of interest and is confident of receiving submissions based on commercial leisure/mixed-use development," they said.
The new £20 million film studio complex being developed by Belfast Harbour, with NI Screen, is still under construction by the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, who lease the site from the council.
Just last week Giant's Park was declared 'open for business' with both Invest NI and Belfast City Council pledging to deliver on the project's lofty ambitions.
