Two of Belfast's landmark buildings have been sold in a £50 million Stg property deal, it was disclosed today.
The sale of department stores, McAuley House and Cleaver House in DonegallPlace, is confirmation of growing business confidence in the city centre, it hasbeen claimed.
Belfast-based developers Andrew Creighton and Frank Boyd bought McAuley Houseand Mr Creighton paid £20 million for Cleaver House, opposite City Hall.
Last year the two men paid more than £100 million for the entire NorthernIreland portfolio of the cross-border property company Dunloe Ewart.
It included 12 acres beside the showpiece Waterfront Hall, 14 acres on the farside of the River Lagan, and a five acre shopping development site in RoyalAve.
Mr Creighton is also bidding to purchase development rights on the city's185-acre Titanic Quarter site on Queen's Island, east Belfast, which is expectedto go for £40-£60 million.
A Belfast property source said: "These two individuals are clearly confidentabout the future of Belfast city centre."