Plans to develop a luxury 4-star hotel in Belfast where RMS Titanic was designed have been approved following a £4.9 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
The 84-bedroom boutique hotel will be located on the site of the Harland and Wolff Headquarters building and drawing offices on Queen’s Island, Belfast.
It was here that Belfast workers created and designed more than 1,000 ships including the White Star Olympic Liners – Olympic, Titanic and Britannic and naval warships such as HMS Belfast.
Harland and Wolff drawing offices where RMS Titanic and HMS Belfast was designedThe project was given the green light after a £4.9m grant from the Heritage Lottery FundThe drawing offices will be transformed into an 89-room boutique hotelThe building has been vacant since 1989 and has been considered ‘at risk’ for almost a decade.
The lottery grant will focus on developing the two historical drawing offices as spaces for public use.
The hotel will also tell the story of Belfast’s industrial heritage, focusing on the authentic spaces – board room, telephony room and entrance lobby.
Head of HLF Northern Ireland Paul Mullan, said: “This is an exciting project that will see one of Belfast’s most historic buildings reborn as a major tourist destination.
“This, like many of the city’s historic buildings, has incredible potential to act as a driver of regeneration and economic growth.
“With Heritage Enterprise, HLF is helping local businesses tap into that potential by covering the high costs of restoring vacant and underused heritage buildings – making them fit-for-purpose as commercial, and therefore sustainable, spaces.”
Video: Ship constructions and launches by Harland and Wolff
Titanic Foundation CEO Kerrie Sweeney, said: “Titanic Foundation in partnership with Titanic Quarter Ltd has been working on this project over the last two years.
“It has been a long process but worth it. With HLF’s support we will safeguard the drawing offices for future generations and unlock the commercial potential of the entire building as a boutique hotel with heritage at its core.
“This is a truly unique and authentic project for Belfast that could not have happened without the support from Heritage Enterprise Scheme,” she added.