A 215,000 sq ft new office building has been approved by Belfast City Council for the McAleer & Rushe, Bedford Square scheme.

Phase two of the city centre development consists of a new 17-storey office building providing 182,598 sq ft of grade A office accommodation, as well as the refurbishment of the listed William Ewart building to create a further 34,942 sq ft of space.

Stephen Surphlis, property director at McAleer & Rushe, said: This planning approval is a welcome boost to the Belfast office market, with the second phase of Bedford Square bringing a landmark building back into active use after many years of vacancy and helping to alleviate the shortage of grade A space in the city."

The first phase of the project was completed in 2006