£32m Queen’s University IT extension to make Belfast cyber security 'world leader'

A new £32 million extension to a Queen’s University IT building will make Belfast a 'world leader' in cyber security, City Hall planners have been told.

Elected representatives at the November meeting of the Belfast City Council Planning Committee have approved an application by Queen’s for a proposed five storey extension to the east and three storey extension to the west of the Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology at Queen's Road, Queen's Island, Belfast BT3.

The existing ECIT Building, originally approved in 2003, has 4,000 metres square floorspace over three storeys. The development proposal comprises an additional 6,400 metres square with a central atrium connected to the existing building.

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The five storey element will face onto Queen’s Road and the three storey element towards Thompson Dock and Pumphouse. There will be a redesigned car park and new landscaped areas. There will be 174 construction jobs as a result of the development, and later 265 people will be employed in the first year of the new building, that is in 2027/2028.

The project is being developed through the Belfast Region City Deal. It is one of three innovation centres being delivered by the city deals.

The council planning report on the application states: “The applicant states that the proposal will create co-innovation between researchers and industry in data security, connectivity and analytics. It is intended to be a place where local and global companies, entrepreneurs and researchers will come together in a multi-disciplinary innovation environment.”

It adds: “The site is a sustainable location, with access to and from Belfast City Centre via established walking, cycling and public transport connections. It is located with a grouping of similar sciencebased buildings within the Titanic Quarter business community including the Catalyst managed Innovation Centre, White Star House, Concourse 1,2 and 3 and the legacy buildings.”

Council officers recommended the application for approval. No objections were received by the council from statutory or non-statutory consultees, and no third party representations were given from the public.

An agent for Queen’s University Belfast told councillors at the Planning Committee meeting: “The ECIT building has put Belfast on the map in terms of digital innovation and the extension seeks to build on that success and enhance its reputation and research capability.

“The new facility will be known as Momentum One Zero. It will bring together global companies, entrepreneurs and researchers, with the aim to achieve world leading competitive advantage in key sectors such as cyber-security, and deliver a range of economic and social benefits.”

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