Belfast has the potential to double its available shopping space in the next 15 years, a new report revealed today.
Pedestrianisation around City Hall is among a range of ambitious suggestions for the city centre.
The proposals are contained in a 15-year plan to regenerate Belfast and reposition it as a leading European city, which was issued for public consultation today.
The report aims to create further learning, culture, retail, leisure and living facilities in the city centre and improve accessibility by all modes of transport.
Mr Gerry Hughes, the report author, said Belfast could look to a bright future if the study's findings were followed.
"The intention of this report is that the city centre doubles in terms of its retail or shopping offer, and there is certainly the potential for it to do that," he said.
"Complementing that, we envisage significant investment in office development." He also pointed to a possible move towards pedestrianising the area around the City Hall.
Social Development minister Mr John Spellar welcomed the report.
"The core principle is to regenerate the city centre from its heart outwards, focusing on appropriate retail-led development, which is proposed as a guiding development theme alongside office, tourism and leisure, and the public realm.
"The report also proposes to harness development opportunities to help drive the regeneration of Belfast's most disadvantaged communities.
"The document sets a high but attainable vision for Belfast as a premier city for the 21st century," he added.
The consultation period on the report runs until Friday, September 12th.
The department will then consider views received before submitting the report to the Department of the Environment for inclusion in the draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP).