Belfast Obel Starts Construction

Work on the tallest building in Belfast, the Obel has started construction less than a year after it was approved following a massive amount of demand for the residential accommodation it contains.

Developers Donegall Quay Ltd were completely overwhelmed when marketing the apartments within, every single one of the 182 units including the pricey penthouses was sold in the space of only 48 hours showing the huge unsatisfied demand in Belfast, a factor that is sure to spur other developers into proposing their own tall residential projects to mention encourage confidence in the province that still has more than it's fair share of sectarian troubles and needs large high prestige projects to hammer into outside investors times really are changing there.

The tower development which will also contain a brand new 144 bedroom hotel and 4,000 square metres of office space in a separate six storey block saw construction launched with a flourish as the Minister for Social Development, David Hanson was on the site at Donegall Quay to witness the beginning of the pile driving.

The 81 metre tall tower has been wrongly reported numerous times as containing 26 floors thanks to the fact that 26 floors contain residential space. It is being built by contractor Charles Brand Ltd and should be completed sometime in 2008 if everything goes to plan and will be the tallest building in Belfast beating the current record holder, Windsor House, by 1 metre.