The Gallery
65-67 Dublin Road,
Belfast
Agent: Templeton Robinson
Apartments start at £115,000
Sited on this thriving area just a few minute’s walk from the city centre, The Gallery will provide nine floors of contemporary New York/Tokyo-inspired accommodation. The unique offering from The Richland Group will include 58 one and two-bedroom apartments as well as a 4,000 square foot bar-cafe and outdoor seating area on the ground floor which will serve as an exclusive meeting area for residents, tourists and locals.
Belfast’s busy Dublin Road has flourished at the heart of the city’s social scene for decades and its prime position close to the Cathedral Quarter, the Ulster Museum, Queen’s University and York Street has led to the area’s long-standing reputation as the ‘gateway’ between south Belfast and the city centre. Gary McCausland, CEO at The Richland Group, explains why they’ve chosen an old address for this new enterprise.
“In the past Dublin Road was quite a busy part of town and was seen as quite bohemian and trendy. One of the reasons we’ve named the scheme ‘The Gallery’ is because research has shown that artists such as William Conor, Paul Henry, Markey Robinson and other important creatives, including a few famous poets, lived and worked in the area.”
As one of the first speculative apartment schemes in nearly a decade, The Gallery will be a significant investment for The Richland Group but the company believe now is the right time to get involved in the Belfast property market.
“I believe that the market has bottomed out in Northern Ireland - and all the statistics are showing that - and we’re now on an upward cycle,” explains Mr McCausland. “I think it could be a long-term sustained cycle. The real key drivers are the fairly low interest rates and the fact that banks have started to lend again. You’ve got some banks offering 1.99 per cent mortgages, which is good news for the market. “You’ve also got a Government incentive scheme for first time buyers. There have been no new apartments built in Belfast in eight-nine years and we just believe the time in the cycle is right, confidence is returning and people want to buy and invest again.”
The Richmond Group will be employing 300 people and pouring several million pounds into the project over the next 15 months, with expectations that the first show apartment will launch in May 2016. Interest has already been registered in the development, and appointed estate agents Templeton Robinson are currently taking reservations ‘off-plan’. A number of big names have also expressed interest in the ground floor cafe and mezzanine.
The Gallery is set to be finished in its entirety by October/November 2016 and will offer a mixture of high quality one-bed or two-bed apartments. And for those in the market for a truly luxurious city pad, there’ll also be penthouse apartments available too.
The block will have a front door on to the main street while a side door off Ventry Lane will provide direct access for cyclists.
Inside The Gallery, the stately proportions of the lobby will be accentuated with full-height glazed sections and contemporary artwork which will highlight the city and the environs of the development with colour and style. A lift will provide access to all eight floors and will be large enough for bicycles, while the mezzanine level will also provide dedicated bicycle storage and lockers, making urban living easier for cross-city travel.
Providing an ultra-contemporary addition to the cityscape, the exterior of the new apartment block will be finished in high quality render and all windows and doors will be made from powder-coated, double-glazed aluminium. The two-bedroom apartments on the seventh and eighth floors will also feature terraces with stainless steel and glass balustrades.
Within the apartments themselves, meanwhile, floor-to-ceiling picture windows will provide far-reaching views over the city while integral blackout blinds allow for added privacy. These modern homes will also be equipped with a range of mood light settings.
In keeping with the contemporary aesthetic of the development, the kitchen designs will feature sleek lines and proportions with gloss finished doors and integrated appliances. A designer ‘high-diner’ will also provide an additional work or dining area and can even be moved around the living space in order to fulfil a variety of uses.
The Gallery’s one-bedroom apartments will include either a double bed with built-in headboard and lockers or a wall-to-wall superking option, each with built-in wardrobe space. An opaque glazed backdrop to the bedspace will provide natural light through the adjoining living space.
The bathrooms will be fully tiled with a wall-hung toilet, wash hand basin, vanity top and a choice of walk-in shower or shower over bath.
In addition, apartments in The Gallery will come with a number of exclusive extras that will no doubt appeal to the urban professional. A Chain Reaction bike will be included with every home, and there’ll be space on the first floor to store over 60 bicycles. Residents will also enjoy an exclusive discount membership at PureGym, only a short distance away.
Mr McCausland concludes:
“The scheme is targeted at investors looking for good rental returns, first-time buyers, young professionals and possibly students or their parents interested in making a wise investment. “It’s very much a high quality city pad scenario that’s based on minimum maintenance and good value for money, it will appeal to lots of sectors.” Entry levels prices are predicted to start at £115,000.
Visit www.thegallerybelfast.com to download an e-brochure or for further information contact estate agents Templeton Robinson at 028 9066 3030.