Bank of America has agreed to occupy the remaining 58,000 sq ft of office space at City Quays 3 in Belfast, bringing the waterfront building to full occupancy.
Lambert Smith Hampton acted for Belfast Harbour on what it described as Northern Ireland’s largest office letting since the pandemic.
The US banking group announced plans in 2025 to establish a Northern Ireland hub supporting several parts of its business, beginning with anti-money laundering operations and potentially creating as many as 1,000 jobs.
Fit-out work on the new Grade A offices is expected to begin this year. Bank of America staff will initially operate from Belfast Harbour’s recently opened 23,000 sq ft serviced office facility in City Quays 1.
GRADE A DEMAND
Bank of America will join businesses including Rathbones, Aflac, Bauer Media and TP ICAP at City Quays 3.
The 15-storey building provides approximately 180,000 sq ft of office accommodation and holds a BREEAM Excellent rating.
It forms part of Belfast Harbour’s wider City Quays development, which combines conventional and serviced offices with retail, restaurants, cafés, parking, the AC Hotel by Marriott and City Quays Gardens.
Tom Donnan, director at Lambert Smith Hampton, says: “City Quays 3 reaching full occupancy and the success of the wider scheme are positive signs for the office market in the city centre.
“Belfast Harbour has created a vibrant and buzzing business community in the area, and we hope as more foreign direct investment comes to Northern Ireland that the demand for Grade A office space will rise, resulting in further development in the region.”
FOREIGN INVESTMENT BOOST
The letting represents a significant vote of confidence in Belfast’s office market following several years in which hybrid working and economic uncertainty have affected occupational demand.
Stephen Deering, Property Surveyor at Belfast Harbour, says the arrival of Bank of America strengthened an existing community of major international businesses.
He adds: “We are proud to play our role in attracting foreign direct investment into the city and supporting opportunities for growth, all of which are key priorities in our Advance Regional Prosperity strategy and our 2050 Masterplan.”
