A Dutch property company has launched a £200 million redevelopment proposal for part of Belfast city centre, including a 25,000 square foot store on the site of the IDB offices in Chichester Street.
According to the company, Multi Development Corporation (MDC), the initiative could see the area transformed into a shopping, leisure, and residential area, and could result in the creation of around 3,000 jobs.
The plans, which centre on the area around Victoria Square, would involve a total of 52,000 square metres of retail space. The proposed department store has elicited interest from House of Fraser and Selfridges, MDC said.
Another 2,800 square metres has also been set aside for two themed restaurants, such as TGI Fridays, and Planet Holywood. An international hotel would be located on the site of Churchill House, which currently houses government offices, and 30 luxury apartments would be built overlooking the city centre. MDC managing director Mr Nico Veldhuis said that it would bring together Belfast's shopping district with the River Lagan and with developments such as the Waterfront Hall and Lanyon Place.
Victoria Square, known in the 19th century as Police Square, and before that as Poultry Square, was originally built around the May Docks, before they fell victim to extensive land reclamation. MDC has said that it intends to retain or restore most of the original architecture around the scheme, which, if approved, would have an opening date of spring 2004.
