PLANNING permission has been granted for the second phase of a major multi-million-pound healthcare scheme on the site of the Kings Hall in Belfast.
Work has been ongoing on the £100 million development since late 2019, with construction almost complete on a new precision medicine hub.
London-listed diagnostics firm Diaceutics will be the first tenant of ‘Dataworks’.
Now the joint venture by Belfast developer Benmore and UK healthcare and property investor Octopus has been given the green light for the second major phase.
The outline proposal approved by Belfast City Council’s planning committee includes additional age exclusive living; medical and life sciences accommodation; a multi-storey car park; creation of a central plaza; and further landscaping works.
It comes almost three years after the first phase secured planning permission in 2018.
David Burrows, director of Benmore Octopus, said: “The move brings us a step close to fulfilling our vision for healthcare and age exclusive living at the iconic site.
“This development comes as a spotlight is being shone on the world’s healthcare providers as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is fitting that we are in the process of creating a park which offers the best possible facilities for those at either end of the age spectrum, which will provide the best possible accommodation for our valued healthcare providers and the best possible working environment for our life sciences companies.”
