List of tallest buildings and structures in Belfast
Introduction 86m (282 ft) Obel Tower in Belfast is Ireland's tallest building.This '''list of the tallest buildings and structures in Belfast''' ranks buildings and structures in Belfast, Northern Ireland by height. There are at least 10 structures in the city taller than  and there are at least 36 habitable buildings in the city taller than .
Tallest by category Albert Memorial Clock*The tallest building in Belfast is the Obel Tower at . It is the tallest building in Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland. *The tallest structure in Belfast is the Black Mountain transmission station, servicing TV and Radio, at 228.6 metres (750 ft). *The tallest free standing and occupied structure is the Harland and Wolf shipbuilding gantry crane Samson at 106 metres (348 ft). *The tallest chimney is the Belfast City Hospital chimney at 95 metres (312 ft). *The tallest church is Belfast (St. Anne's) Cathedral at 80 metres (262 ft). *The tallest clock is the Albert Memorial Clock at 34.4m (113 feet).
Belfast's tallest structures These lists rank the 8 tallest structures in Belfast by total height.+Belfast Tallest StructuresRankNameUseImageHeight (m)Height (ft)Floors above groundYear of completionNotes1Black Mountain transmitting stationTV mast100px228.6750N/A1959=2 Divis transmitting stationTV mast100px166 545N/A20114"Samson"Shipbuilding Gantry Crane100x100px106348N/A19745Belfast Ship repair Quay craneShip repair Crane100px104341N/Aunknown6"Goliath"Shipbuilding Gantry Crane100px96316N/A19697Belfast City Hospital ChimneyChimney100px95312N/A19868Grand Central HotelHotel100px93 (Structure height (with 1 plant floor, top of elevator shaft and radio mast now included))305 (Structure)2319759ObelResidential100px8628128201010St Anne's Cathedral (Church of Ireland)Church100px80262N/A2007
Belfast's tallest habitable buildings This list is the tallest habitable buildings in Belfast by architectural height.Belfast tallest Buildings Rank Name Use Image Height (m) Height (ft) Floors(above ground) Year of completion Notes 1Obel Residential100px 86 282 28 2010 2Grand Central Hotel Hotel100px 80 (Architectural height) 262 (Building) 23 1975 3Belfast City Hospital Tower Hospital100px 76 249 15 19864City Quays 3Office100px74162021 (topped out)5The EwartOffice73240172021 (topped out)(Nicknamed "R2D2" for the Star Wars droid) 6Belfast International Hilton Hotel Hotel100px 63 207 16 1998 7BT Riverside Tower Office100px 62 203 14 1998 8Divis Tower Residential100px 61 200 20 1966 9= The Boat Office/Residential100px 57 187 15 20109=Royal Victoria Hospital Critical Care BuildingHospital100px57 187122012 11= Linum Square Office100px 55 180 13 2005 11= Causeway Tower Office100px 55 180 13 2004 11= Great Northern Tower Office100px 55 180 13 199214Ulster University Belfast CampusUniversity 5217113202115Grainne HouseResidential100px52171171968 16Europa Hotel Hotel100px 51 167 13 1971 17 Lanyon Plaza Office100px 50 164 12 2014 18= Bedford House Office100px 49 161 12 1966 18= River House Office100px 49 161 14 1970 Building reclad in 2018.18=Ferndale HouseParkdale HouseRiverdale HouseResidential100x100px4916115196518=Coolemoyne HouseRathmoyne HouseResidential100x100px4916115196225Queen's University Medical  Biology Centre(MBC)University100px4815812196926Swanston House 41-49 Queen streetResidential (student) 100px47155142016 27= 14 Great Victoria Street Office100px 46 151 11 2003 27= Fanum House Office100px 46 151 13 196527=Dundonald houseOffice100px4615112early 1960s 27=Ashby Building University100px 46 151 11 196527=101 York StreetResidential (student)100px46151142021 (topped out) 32= Kilbroney House Residential100px 45 148 15 1967 32= Carnet House Residential100px 45 148 15 196632=Bradbury courtResidential100px4514815Early 1960s32=FX, 14-18 Montgomery streetResidential 100px4514815201932=Maldron hotelHotel 100px4514815201832=Elms BT2, McClintock StreetResidential (student) 100px45148162018
Tallest non-habitable buildings List of tallest non Habitable buildings over 45m tall in Belfast. Non-Habitable building refers to a building where most of the height is taken up by an architectural feature which is not habitable such as a spire, or storage space.+RankNameUseImageHeight (m)Height (ft)Year of Construction Notes1St Anne's CathedralAnglican Cathedral (Church of Ireland)100px8026220072St Patrick's Church, BelfastRoman Catholic chapel100px5518018773West Twin SilosWarehouse100px5417719634Belfast City HallGovernment Building100px5317419065Carlisle Memorial ChurchFormer Methodist Church now a venue100px5217118756St Peter's Cathedral, BelfastRoman Catholic Cathedral133x133px501641866
Tallest demolished Tallest buildings and structures in Belfast over 45m to have been demolished.+NameUseImageHeight (m)FloorsNotesDivis Transmitting station (old)TV MastsMast A =140.7and Mast B=139.5  N/ABuilt in 1957Replaced in 2011Power station West 3 ChimneysPower station Chimneys100px80N/AWas opened in 1962, and closed in 2002 as move towards green energy began. Chimneys were demolished in 2007.Churchill HouseOffice100px66 (not including mast)18When built in 1966 it was Belfast's tallest building. Was occupied by Northern Ireland civil servants. Demolished in 2004.Now Victoria Square Shopping centre is where it once stood.Greeves' (Cupar street) mill chimneyChimney66N/AWhen built it was the tallest chimney in Ireland and was until at least 1923.It had to be felled for safety reasons as it quickly deteriorated.Belfast WheelObservation wheel100px60N/AWas opened 2007 and closed 2010, due to blocking listed Belfast City hall and titanic memorial. Talks of moving it to the Titanic quarter led to nothing.
Potential tall buildings in belfast Section covers buildings and structures under construction, had planning permission approved and have been proposed for Belfast. Exact heights stated in this section are taken directly from building plans found at  and most recent approvals are announced online, where older ones are found in the previous reference.===Under construction===This lists buildings that are currently under construction. NameImage Use Height (m) Floors NotesRoyal Victoria children's Hospital *Add when crane erectedany cgi image will likely be removed due to copyrightHospital61 (65 structure)12Demolition of Bostock House (site location) underway.Bruce Street Student accommodation133x133pxStudent Accommodation5115Under construction, tower crane erected and core risingLoftlines add pic when crane up btr and social housing 57 max also 45 18 max also 14 construction started 26/06/2023 link to planning app Planning ref:LA04/2021/2280/F center=== Approved ===This lists buildings that have been given planning permission to be constructed  in Belfast. Name Use Height (m) Floors NotesCity Quay 4Residential76.4 (79.4m plant if measured same way as capital dock this would be official height)23 Belfast Harbour proposal in 2019  PAN submitted September 2022 Planning ref:LA04/2022/1752/PAN  Full application submitted LA04/2023/2388/F with confirmed planned height in documents  recommended for approval in Dec 2023 planning meeting, height slightly increased and full planned height confirmed. Approved in Jan 16 2024 planning meeting Royal Victoria Hospital energy centrePower station70 (Flue chimney stack)N/AGranted planning permission in Belfast City council's 14/12/21 planning meeting   This will not be a 'habitable building' but a prominent structure. Planning ref: LA04/2021/1492/F.21-29 Corporation streetMixed use6319Proposed in 2018, pre planning accepted, renders of design produced by developer Macleer and Rushe in 2020.Formal planning application imminent. Note site has previous applications up to 20 stories accepted planning permission including offices and 250 bedroom hotel but nothing has come of it yet with site still derelict.Full Planning application submitted August 2021  Planning ref LA04/2021/2016/F.was approved in Jan 16th 2024 planning meeting  Sirroco waterside quays officeOffice58.3 13Approved 2020  Planning ref: LA04/2018/0448/F.The ResidenceResidential57.519Approved in November 2020 planning meeting. Site has been put up for sale in 2021.Planning ref:LA04/2019/2387/F.Lanyon View Dalton streetResidential56.717Approved 2019 and again in 2021 after dispute. Planning ref: LA04/2018/2649/F.Belfast Harbour 480 mW gas power stationPower station 54.2N/AApproved 2019  Not a 'habitable building' but a prominent structure. Planning ref: LA04/2017/0878/F.River WalkResidential5417Approved 2020  Planning ref: 2019/0517/F.81-87 Academy streetResidential5416Approved 2019 Land bought by Tribeca Developers 2021  Reapproved 24/11/2021.Planning ref: LA04/2019/2257/F.Bedford yardAparthotel4513Approved 2020 and again in 2021 after dispute. Planning ref: LA04/2020/0659/F.=== Proposed ===This lists buildings that have only been proposed to be built in Belfast. Name Use Height (m) Floors Notes Olympic Tower Residential 97.5 30 Pre-planning accepted 2019, full planning application yet to come. ref:LA04/2019/0680/PAN  Titanic Quarter Master plan Abercorn tower,Plater's Yard and plot19arc2Mixed use 94 (100.5 total height)73, 66.5 and 51.530, 21, unknown and 16Outline planning permission from Titanicquarter masterplan, now expired but still intention to renew. heights taken from Loftline's design and access statement. Queen' Quay Masterplan Mixed useover 85 ,approx 60 and approx 6020 plus,approx 15 and 15Details found in reference which is the ongoing consultation by the department of the communities, funded by regional city deal (high chance of happening). Masterplan has three towers of significant height, the first is shown to be slightly taller than the Obel Tower and mirrors the proposed tower across the M3 at the Odyssey quay, with apartments starting at the twentieth floor above a hotel and retail ground floor unit. Two other 60m apartment towers with retail units are also planned. Planning ref  LA04/2021/2579/PAN Odyssey quays landmark tower and gateway officeResidential and office84.8+ and 55+28 and 15Part of Odyssey Quays master plan proposed 2019, aviation report in 2020 cites tower as over 36m above 48.7m height limit  Planning ref  LA04/2019/2882/O Weaver's Cross Mixed use78 and 52.4 and 52.418 and 15 and 15Translink proposing a development, Weavers Cross, around the under construction transport hub. Proposed in 2017 with initial proposal of application notice The development was pitched to developers at the end of November 2020.This tower was pitched to hide the back of the Europa Hotel.New proposal of application notice in 2021, tower remains but no reference to exact floor height as before. In consultation for new plan tower height revealed to be 78m Full outline planning submitted  In this reveal of floor number and that city planners want tower to be taller. Additional 50+m residential buildings included in master plan. Planning ref LA04/2021/2856/OOutline planning recommended for approval in 31/08/2022 planning meeting (this can be found in planning committee meeting agenda in Belfast City Council's website however will not link properly for citation). 102-127 Grosvenor Roadstudent accomformer app 62m n/aThe GrattanMixed use but mainly residential, with commercial ground floor52.4517Will replace the derelict Fanum House ( which features in the list of tallest buildings). Community consultation process finished in February  2021 with a formal planning application to follow.Old Planning ref:LA04/2020/2548/PAN PAN in to change use to student accomnew ref LA04/2023/4377/PANHeight confirmed in Todd architect x post Tribeca Master planMixed use 60 and 46.515 and 10Outline planning permission as part of Tribeca master plan planning ref  LA04/2018/0811/O Tobacco WorksMixed useapprox 6017In planning development by Todd architects and Wirefox Bruce Street CarparkMixed Useapprox 60 and 4914, 11 and unknown residential In planning Development by Todd Architects and Heron BrosOne Bankmore square design 2Office and apartment buildings58 and 5614Redesign of previously approved proposal with smaller footprint and similar height. Area now temporary trade market and events space.Two new Pans Full application for office Full application for student accom Holmes StreetResidential5015Outline planning application Dec 2021Outline planning approved Aug 2022 Planning ref LA04/2022/0023/O 35-41 queens squareResidential4615Pre planning application submitted with digital community consultation beginning 29 March. A 16 story tower was previously approved in same location. 25 August 2021 full planning submitted. July 2022 new design uploaded to same application with height reduced from 47 to 46m. Planning ref LA04/2021/1985/F City Quays 5 Mixed Use 45.3 10 full planning submitted Dec 20 2023 Dorchester House apart hotel4512 reclad change of use and two storey extension of existing office building.
List of Unbuilt Buildings Table of tallest proposed buildings that never came to fruition, either due to planning permission or financial issues.+NameHeight (m)FloorsNotesAurora building10937 Site currently a petrol station, planning was refused mainly due to precarious financial state of developer and opposition to building height.Bedford Square phase 2 (original application)104.526 Gained planning approval in 2005 but plans were scaled down after property market crash in 2008.A 17 storey office is currently under construction on its proposed site.Belfast Vetro Hotel10026Sirocco Quay9230 Had outline planning permission but was changed into a 17 storey office development city quays 3 which is currently under constructionQueen's Quay block E192 30  Land bought by another developer creating their own masterplan.Royal Exchange Tower 9126Now Tribeca masterplan with shorter buildings to protect listed buildings from being dominated,Odyssey quays tower8829 previous withdrawn proposal, there is currently a 28 storey tower proposed on the same site.Murray Tobacco works84.528 Majority of site was bought by Translink who are using it as part of a mixed use development around their transport hub called Weaver's Cross. There is preplanning discussions for a 17 floor residential tower in the remaining land.Midland Building 7625 site is now student accommodationSt George's Gate7624 Application withdrawn, still seen as a development opportunity siteHope and History7021 Proposed in 2005, planning refused.Brunswick Street tower7017 Planning was approved, land is being used for Mcclintock street student accommodation and Maldron hotel, there is still unused land on the site. One Grosvenor Gate6216 new application for 800 student accom in.Bridge end towers6119 Application withdrawn, site still vacant. Titanic Quarter Financial campus 6012 was approved, but now site has a new proposal of purpose managed student accommodation (height as yet unknown from consultation but it did give the height of the older proposal in the info pack  ) Bankmore Square5712 was approved, now being split into appartments and a slimmer office pans are in for both.
History of Belfast's tallest building Table of the history of the tallest building in Belfast by Architectural height+NameYears tallestHeight (m)ImageSt. Peter's Cathedral (Roman Catholic)1866-187550133x133pxCarlisle Memorial Church (Methodist)1875-187752100pxSt Patrick's Church (Roman Catholic)1877-196655100pxChurchill House1966-197566100pxWindsor House (Grand Central Hotel)1st1975-2007Joint 1st2007-201080100pxBelfast (St. Anne's) Cathedral (Church of Ireland)Joint 1st2007-201080100pxObel Tower 2010-86100px
See also *List of tallest structures in Ireland*List of tallest buildings and structures in Dublin
References
External links * Skyscraper News: Belfast*   Emporis:Belfast* futurebelfast.com*https://www.planbelfast.com/