A building which has housed a daily newspaper for the past 118 years has been put up for sale for £3.5m.

The headquarters of the Irish News at Donegall Street, Belfast, could be redeveloped for accommodation or offices, according to selling agents McKibbin’s.

The News announced last year that it would be leaving Donegall Street, its home since 1905, for a new office at Belfast’s Fountain Centre.

Fountain Centre is home to its sister operation Q Radio, which is also owned by the News owner the Fitzpatrick family.

Noel Doran, editor of the News, said: “We will be sorry to leave Donegall Street, which has served us so well down the generations, but we are looking forward to all the opportunities associated with our new home.”

The three-storey Grade B2 listed building is part of a wider site close to Ulster University’s new campus.

McKibbin’s believes the site could become student accommodation, build to rent accommodation, offices or further space for the university, subject to planning permission.

News managing director Dominic Fitzpatrick said: “The facade of the building is listed, so we are pleased that our beautiful frontage will be protected.

“The move to the Fountain Centre and the redevelopment of new offices comes at an exciting time for the group – a bright and modern working environment will make for a very attractive workplace

“Bringing everyone across the group into one location will also offer significant opportunities to work together and unleash some of the synergies that clearly exist.”