Belfast has taken a significant commercial boost after Bank of America agreed to occupy almost five floors of the new City Quays 3 office scheme on Clarendon Road. Belfast Harbour said the global bank will take 58,000 sq ft across four-and-a-half floors of the 15-storey Grade A development.
Immediate occupancy and fit-out arrangements
While the bank completes its fit-out works at City Quays 3, it will initially operate from serviced offices at City Quays 1, Belfast Harbour confirmed. The move brings City Quays 3 to full occupancy and further cements the waterfront development as a growing commercial hub.
Jobs and local economic impact
The announcement follows the bank’s earlier commitment to establish a hub in Northern Ireland that could create up to 1,000 new roles, with an initial focus on areas such as anti-money laundering operations. The occupation of space at City Quays is being presented as a key step in delivering that employment ramp-up.
“We’re delighted that Bank of America has chosen City Quays 3 as their base in Northern Ireland, and that we have been able to assist them in their employment ramp-up through the provision of serviced office space in the adjoining City Quays 1 office.”
The harbour authority said the letting joins a roster of significant corporate tenants already based at City Quays, reinforcing demand for high-quality office accommodation in the city. The wider development combines offices, hotel provision, multi-storey car parking and public realm improvements known as City Quays Gardens.
What this means for development plans
Belfast Harbour has outlined ambitious longer-term projects alongside the letting. Its 2050 masterplan includes a reported £1.3bn target for port infrastructure and a further projected £500m–£750m for property investment, subject to commercial partners. Planning consent has already been secured for the City Quays 4 residential scheme and City Quays 5 mixed-use office scheme, and a planning application is under consideration for the £222m Clarendon Wharf residential project.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Floors taken | 4.5 of 15 in City Quays 3 |
| Space | 58,000 sq ft |
| Jobs pledged | Up to 1,000 roles |
| Interim accommodation | Serviced offices at City Quays 1 |
- City Quays 3 is now fully let, according to Belfast Harbour.
- Existing tenants at the City Quays estate include TP ICAP, Aflac, Bauer Media and Santander.
- The development forms part of a wider regeneration of Belfast’s waterfront.
The deal is likely to reinforce confidence in the local commercial property market and support ancillary spending in the city centre as recruitment and fit-out proceed. For workers and jobseekers, further details on vacancies and recruitment timelines are likely to be announced by the bank as its Northern Ireland operation scales up.
Further coverage will track the rollout of recruitment, the precise nature of roles to be created locally and the timetable for occupation of the City Quays 3 floors.
