Havelock House, the former headquarters of UTV, Northern Ireland’s largest commercial television broadcaster for almost 60 years, has been acquired by UK development firm, Olympian Homes. The sale was handled by Savills Northern Ireland.

UTV has since moved its operations to City Quays 2 in the Belfast Harbour Estate, taking 11,399 sq. ft. on the top floor of the new 94,527 sq. ft. office building, where they have a new state of the art modern multi-purpose studio & production facility.

Olympian Homes plans to redevelop Havelock House and deliver a professionally managed, purpose built Build-to-Rent residential scheme.

The London-based firm has been trading for over 20 years and has delivered development schemes throughout the UK including key markets in London, Oxford, Manchester, Cambridge and Belfast. The Company is the Master Developer for a major, residential-led, 7 acre Strategic Regeneration Framework directly adjacent to the future HS2 terminal building in Manchester city centre and has submitted a planning application for a 488 unit Build-to-Rent scheme over 24 and 30 storeys. The acquisition of Havelock House will be the third scheme to be added to the company’s Build-to-Rent development pipeline.

UTV – which is owned by ITV plc – had been situated at Havelock House since the broadcaster went on air in 1959 and for many years, UTV’s base at Havelock House was also used by television film crews around the world to process and edit film footage of the Troubles.

Oonagh Forster, Finance Director ITV News said:

“The successful sale of Havelock House brings us to the end of the UTV office move project, and we are delighted that contracts have been exchanged. UTV is now well-settled in its state of the art studio and offices at City Quays 2 at Belfast Harbour Estate.”

Simon Murray-Twinn, Chief Executive Officer at Olympian Homes, said:

“This is an exciting addition to our investment in Belfast and our development will bring much needed homes for people working and living in the city centre. We aim to build a vibrant community who will enjoy the fantastic location which is a convenient walk into the central business district and the Gasworks opposite. We are looking forward to a positive collaboration with the city again to achieve a result much like we have seen with our recently completed student accommodation on Great Patrick Street.”

Commenting on the sale, Simon McEvoy, Divisional Director at Savills Northern Ireland said:

“From the launch of the sale, Havelock House generated strong local and international interest. We’re delighted with the outcome and look forward to seeing Olympian Homes progress its plans for the property.”