Full steam ahead for Kuhne on Belfast’s Titanic Quarter

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Northern Ireland's Planning Service has given the green light to Eric Kuhne Associates' phase-two masterplan of Belfast's vast £3 billion docklands regeneration

Northern Ireland's Planning Service has given the green light to Eric Kuhne Associates' phase-two masterplan of Belfast's vast £3 billion docklands regeneration.

The entire 75ha scheme, called Titanic Quarter, will provide more than 2,000 new homes and create 25,000 new jobs over a 15-year period.

Northern Ireland's environment minister Arelene Foster said: 'It is a major confidence boost. It is further indication that Northern Ireland is leaving its troubled past behind.'

Phase two includes Kuhne's signature project at the heart of the development, a £90 million Titanic visitor centre, located on part of the Harland and Wolff shipyard where the Titanic was built.

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Kuhne's scheme, however, is subject not only to government funding, but is also vying for £25 million of Big Lottery money, which will be handed out after a televised public vote in December.

Titanic Quarter chief executive Mike Smith said: 'At 330,000m2 it's the largest-ever planning application approved in Northern Ireland.

'It has about 300m2 of residential and about 100,000m2 of business space including the Titanic Signature Project. Our aim is to have all of phase two complete by 2012.'