Work has begun on the island of Ireland's largest eco-friendly student accommodation in Belfast City Centre, as part of Queen's University's plan to provide nearly 3,000 beds by 2029.

Located in the Dublin Road area, the new building will accommodate up to 459 students, transforming a part of the city once known as Belfast's Golden Mile and fulfilling the University's Civic Commitment to South Belfast.

A 2022 report revealed that for every £1 invested in Queen’s, the economic return was eight-fold.

Initiating the sod-cut alongside Kainos CEO, Russell Sloan, Queen's President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer stated: "For the past 180 years, Queen’s has been renowned for providing a world-class education to our students and huge influence on the economic and social landscape of Belfast and beyond.

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"This accommodation, together with Kainos’ new office space, will transform the landscape of Dublin Road, increase economic activity in the area through city-centre-living and deliver tangible benefits for the welfare of our people and planet."

The site, which is shared with software giant Kainos, is set to welcome its first cohort of students to the accommodation by September 2026.

Liz McLaughlin, Director for Student and Campus Experience said: "Belfast is a lively, future-focussed city that year-on-year, is attracting a higher number of students, meaning Queen’s has seen increased demand for university accommodation. Our continued investment in first-rate accommodation and facilities offers prospective students high-quality, secure living quarters, alongside a transformative student experience."

The construction of the ultra-low carbon building will mark Northern Ireland's first Passivhaus-certified, purpose-built student accommodation. This globally recognised standard requires minimal energy for heating and cooling, representing another key milestone in the University’s strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.