Plans approved for digital aquarium-themed attraction at Northern Ireland shopping centre
The proposal at Victoria Square will transform two long-vacant restaurant units within the shopping centre into a new visitor attraction featuring digital aquarium-themed entertainment
Plans for a new aquarium-themed visitor attraction in Belfast’s Victoria Square have been approved by the city’s planning committee.
The proposal, lodged by CGI Victoria Square Limited, was given the green light last Friday, September 11, and involves the conversion of two long-vacant restaurant units within the shopping centre.
The units are located close to the Odeon Cinema and span levels two and three.
The proposals would see the existing spaces combined and extended, with a new glazed entrance area created within the currently uncovered canopy at level two. The scheme would also include ancillary retail space, an exhibition area and meeting room, alongside associated site works.
According to supporting material prepared by planning consultancy TSA, the attraction is intended to provide an aquarium-themed experience using digital technology.
The planning application states: “A Change of use of 2 previous restaurants to an integrated digital technology aquarium themed entertainment visitor attraction venue, including a change of use of the internal uncovered canopy (at level 2) to create a new glazed entrance area with ancillary retail, exhibition area and meeting room area and all associated site works.”
Architects Ostick & Williams said the development would create jobs, increase footfall and “bring vibrancy to currently vacant units”, while contributing to Belfast’s cultural and tourism offering.
The application by the centre operator, which is ultimately owned by German group Commerz Real Investmentgesellschaft mbH, also indicates that the venue could cater for a range of visitors and uses, including family groups and corporate events.
The approval comes amid wider concerns over capacity within Belfast’s sewerage network.
Earlier this year, Belfast planning officials moved to approve a number of developments despite objections from NI Water over the city’s sewerage infrastructure, including the proposed Victoria Square attraction.
NI Water had argued that “network capacity issues” in the area presented “significant risks of detrimental effect to the environment and detrimental impact on existing properties”.