Kainos sets sights on new multimillion pound city centre headquarters

Date posted
3 February 2020
Reading time
7 Minutes

Kainos sets sights on new multimillion pound city centre headquarters

Digital services and platforms company, Kainos, has today announced plans to seek planning permission for its new headquarters to be located at Bankmore Square, Dublin Road in the former Movie House Cinema building. The new multimillion pound office development will support the company's ongoing expansion and its ambitious recruitment drive.

The news comes as the technology company submits a proposal of application notice to Belfast City Council for the development of a new office building in the city centre. It is expected that the development will provide c. 150 jobs during the construction phase.

The creation of a modern and innovative workplace will allow Kainos to relocate its existing Belfast based workforce of over 700 people to one central location. Kainos' current operations in the city sees its team working across multiple office spaces across south Belfast including Upper Crescent and Mount Charles in Queen's Quarter and Ascot House on Shaftesbury Square.

Kainos, which has been recruiting intensely in recent years, has confirmed the new office building will play a key role in accommodating its current and future growth requirements. The business, which began operations in Belfast in 1986, is currently recruiting for more than 40 roles spanning a range of technical and non-technical, experienced and entry-level positions.

Brendan Mooney, CEO at Kainos, commented: 'We are delighted to announce the start of an exciting new phase of Kainos' growth in Northern Ireland. The continued growth has resulted in the company outgrowing its current office spaces and generating a need to centralise all of our Belfast team members under one roof. Kainos is committed to providing exceptional careers and working conditions, and the development of new contemporary offices will ensure we maintain these standards.'

The company's decision to locate the proposed headquarters at the former Movie House Cinema site on Dublin Road was based on a number of factors, primarily minimising disruption for staff travelling to the city and allowing them to benefit from sustainable modes of transport, including the rail and bus links that will be offered from the future Belfast Transport Hub at Weavers Cross.

Mr Mooney continued: 'At Kainos, we are extremely proud of our people; they are central to everything we do and vital to our success. Therefore, we want to provide them with a terrific working experience and that includes contributing to a comfortable commute and we believe this prime spot on Dublin Road will benefit our existing and future talent in this regard.'

The proposed development will demolish the existing Bankmore Square structure and construct a new state-of-the-art office space. Subject to planning approval, and after the completion of construction, staff will consolidate from Kainos' current office spaces into the single building.

Mr Mooney continued: 'The new building signals our commitment and continued investment in retaining and attracting the best people to work with us. Kainos has a rich history of working in the Queen's Quarter and surrounding south Belfast sites and we want to preserve this sense of heritage in the new site. The Bankmore Square building has been an important landmark for the city and we hope to retain some of its iconic characteristics throughout the design process.'

A proposal of application notice has been submitted to Belfast City Council which marks the beginning of pre-application community consultation; including a public exhibition that will be held at the Clayton Hotel on Wednesday 1st April 2020 from 3pm 7pm.

Philip Stinson, Director at the project's planning consultancy Turley commented: 'We are pleased to be involved in developing the new headquarters for Kainos. The company has become a leading example for providing best-in-class employment experiences and the proposed development of a modern workplace will help Kainos continue to attract top talent and sustain its growth ambitions. We look forward to the Community Consultation ahead of submitting the planning application.'