Queen’s University Belfast has awarded Graham a £39m construction contract to build two new state-of-the-art buildings beside the Belfast City Hospital as part of the planned 8,500m2 iREACH Health facility.
IREACH Health, a new £64m integrated clinical research innovation centre led by Queen’s University Belfast, will be developed in partnership with Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Health and Social Care Research and Development Division. The project is funded by the Northern Ireland Executive and UK Government through the Belfast Region City Deal, and part funded by Queen’s University Belfast.
The innovation centre will provide major health, social, and economic benefits for Northern Ireland, making clinical trials more effective, efficient, and interconnected whilst supporting the improved health of the population. Over the lifetime of the project, it’s estimated more than 1000 direct and indirect jobs will be created alongside over £750m additional GDP for the region.
Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, said: “For 180 years, Queen’s has been at the forefront of innovation, delivering major impact and benefits for people in our region and across the world. This spirit of innovation continues today through initiatives like iREACH Health, which will be transformational for our clinical trial ecosystem.”
“This new facility will enable groundbreaking clinical trial capability and ensure Northern Ireland remains at the forefront of life and health sciences, addressing some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.”
Professor Judy Bradley, Director of iREACH Health, commented: “The appointment of Graham marks a significant milestone in realising our vision for a revolutionary clinical trial research facility.”
“IREACH Health will harness Queen’s and Northern Ireland's research strengths and create a cutting-edge environment to improve patient outcomes, accelerate inclusive innovation, and support our health and life sciences sector in achieving local and global impact.”
Planning permission for the facility was granted in March, with the main construction work at the site due to start in December 2024. iREACH Health plans to be operating from the new facilities by 2026, accommodating up to 360 staff, as it supports Northern Ireland’s life and health sciences sector.
Gary Holmes, Regional Managing Director – Graham Building North, added: “We are delighted to be working with Queen’s on the new iREACH Health facility, which will help define the future of clinical research in Northern Ireland.”
“Our team is committed to delivering a state-of-the-art space that matches the ambitious goals of Queen’s and its partners. With our team currently delivering Belfast’s first-ever Passivhaus-certified student accommodation on Dublin Road on behalf of Queen’s, we have a long-standing relationship with the University that we look forward to building on.”
Queen’s three regional innovation centres, focused on clinical research, advanced manufacturing, and advanced, digital technologies, will deliver up to 4,000 new jobs and provide positive impact across the region, increasing productivity, driving inclusive growth, and contributing towards Queen’s commitment to net zero by 2040.
