Department store to create 500 jobs in Belfast

House of Fraser is to open one of its largest UK stores in Belfast with the creation of more than 500 new jobs, it was announced tonight.

The designer brand retailer is to be the anchor tenant in a £250m (€397m) development close to the city centre.

Work on the 200,000 sq ft store at Victoria Square is due to begin early next year.

It will be twice the size of any other department store in Belfast, and one of the largest House of Fraser stores in the UK.

According to Multi-Development Corporation International (MDC) which signed the deal, the opening of the store is expected to create more than over 500 jobs.

Earlier this year the firm announced a 44% rise in profits from its 51 stores and an increase of 12.9% in total sales.

Restaurants and leisure facilities are also to be developed as part of the massive scheme which involves two multi-levelled covered streets linked to a glass dome which will be one of the largest covered shopping areas in Europe.

House of Fraser hopes to have work on its store completed by 2006.

Chief executive John Coleman said: “Belfast is a market that we believe holds great opportunities for us.”

Nico Veldhuis, managing director of MDC said: “This is a new name for the city and as well as bringing many other major brands to Belfast we will also have smaller units for locally owned retailers.”