NEWRY entrepreneur Brian McConville is to use his fit-out firm's maritime expertise to bring two important heritage buildings in Belfast city centre back to life in what is his first venture into property.
The chairman of ship-fitting giant MJM Marine goes before Belfast City Council's planning committee next week to seek approval for the iconic Clarence Chambers building on the corner of Donegall Square East - and which ironically was originally built in 1830 by ship-owner John Workman.
He aims to restore the Clarence Chambers town houses to their former glory, retaining the historic existing feature of the building but allowing for a sensitive modernisation to meet current office and retail needs.
And for Mr McConville, who also owns Mivan and Topglass, it will see him come full circle in the ownership of a family which specialise in refitting some of the world’s largest cruise ships.
“The maritime history associated with Clarence is one of the things that first drew our attention to it,” he said.
“This history is in our blood as we recently celebrated 35 years in MJM delivering refit services to the marine sector.
“Last year we brought our first cruise ship refit to Belfast which was another personal project I have pursued for a long time.
“We have very ambitious plans to continue to be part of bringing the ship repair and refit business back to being synonymous with Belfast,” he added.
Building on Belfast's rich legacy of heritage architecture, the McConvilles plan to deliver premium office accommodation in Clarence Chambers as well as restaurants, cafes and leisure offerings.
This will also be the case in Pearl Assurance House at the opposite side of the square, with both buildings aiming to support the core of Belfast centre as a premier destination.
Plans to reconfigure Pearl Assurance House to offer a mix of retail, office and residential accommodation were submitted last month.
Brian McConville has also submitted plans to Armagh Banbridge Craigavon Councilto create a medical village in Rathfriland.
“This project will deliver first class healthcare facilities in my home town and is one scheme of which I am particularly proud. If successful, it will totally transform the locality.
“We are also waiting on final sign off from DFI Roads Service for a housing scheme comprising 200 homes which was passed by Newry Mourne and Down Council before Christmas. These are exciting times for us and our team and we continue to invest in Northern Ireland despite the political uncertainty.”
