House of Fraser development nets Belfast 500 jobs

Belfast has received an employment boost with the news that the House of Fraser is set to open a store in the city centre creating up to 500 jobs in the process.

The company have announced the signing of a contract with Multi Development Corporation (MDC) to develop an outlet in Victoria Square.

The House of Fraser will become the anchor tenant in the £250 million development which, at 200,000 sq ft, will be one of the largest store's in Britain. The Victoria Square outlet is expected to be opened for business in 2006.

Nico Veldhuis, Managing Director, MDC, said: "We are very pleased to bring House of Fraser to Belfast and believe it is a great boost for shopping in the city.

"This is the sort of quality retailer we said the Victoria Square regeneration initiative would attract, a name new for the city. As well as bringing many other major brands to Belfast we will also have smaller units for locally-owned retailers."

MDC's regeneration of Victoria Square consists of almost 600,000sq ft of new shopping space. The project is centred on two multi-levelled covered streets linking to a 35m-diameter glass dome which, according to MDC, will be one of the largest covered spaces in a shopping development anywhere in Europe.

Victoria Square is the largest new retail development in Belfast for more than a decade. It incorporates 17 different buildings and at its centre are new squares and gardens.

MDC is awaiting permission from the authorities but can be on site early next year.

John Coleman, Chief Executive of House of Fraser, said: "The store is yet another step forward in our expansion programme as we take advantage of the many areas in the UK which we have identified as strong markets for House of Fraser."

(GMcG)