Kainos, the Belfast-based IT firm, has been given planning permission to build a new city centre headquarters.

The 14-storey office block will be on the Dublin Road, on part of the site formerly occupied by a cinema.

Queen's University will build a student accommodation block on the adjoining site.

Construction is due to start in September with a completion target of early 2027.

The student block is due to be completed earlier, in time for the 2026 academic year.

Kainos bought the Movie House cinema site on the Dublin Road in February 2019 to accommodate its growing workforce.

It is one of Northern Ireland's largest businesses with almost 3,000 people across its global operations.

The company specialises in helping organisations to digitise their operations.

The rise of home working during the pandemic meant the company did not need as big an office as originally planned so it sold half of the site to Queen's.

After the cinema was demolished the site was leased to Trademarket, an outdoor food and retail space. That lease will end as planned on 31 July.

'Significant milestone'

Russell Sloan, Kainos chief executive, said: "It is exciting to know we will be moving into our new headquarters at Bankmore Exchange in just a few years.

"This development not only marks a significant milestone in our journey but also reaffirms our commitment to Belfast, the city where Kainos was founded.

"I would also like to take a moment to thank Trademarket for their partnership. As they move on to new ventures, we wish them every success."

Earlier this week Kainos said it expected to record a pre-tax profit of about £76m for 2023.