City could get double jobs boost

Ten Square could be set for a major expansion

Seventy-five new jobs could be created with a �60m expansion of a hotel in the centre of Belfast.

The owners of Ten Square are planning to build 85 new bedrooms as well as an underground swimming pool and conference facilities.

In another jobs boost for the city, software and services provider ICS Computing is to create 50 posts.

The company has won contracts to provide payroll and pension services to two major NHS trusts.

The three NHS contracts have a combined value of �2.5m and will see ICS providing payroll services to around 17,000 employees across the trusts.

ICS already employs more than 250 people at its Belfast headquarters.

Hotel

Ten Square general manager Kevin Smyth said if planning permission is given, about 100 construction jobs could also be created by the hotel's expansion.

"This is a massive investment and we look forward to the further growth and development of the hotel in the coming years as an asset to the city," he said.

"The time is right to once again reinvest for the future."