Two anchor tenants have been given the green light to transform the former Debenhams space in CastleCourt Shopping Centre.
Planning applications for a cinema and a family entertainment and adventure specialist to create a multi-offer proposition have been approved by Belfast City Council.
Omniplex Cinema Group will occupy 30,000 sq ft with luxury cinema brand "The Avenue" with the family entertainment scheme taking up 50,000sq ft.
The remaining 40,000sq ft has been earmarked for further retail activity with details to be announced soon.
A total of 125 construction jobs will be created collectively during the landlord conversion and build, and subsequent tenant fit-outs and up to 130 full and part-time jobs will be created across all operators upon completion.
A new £350,000 flagship Starbucks investment is also due to occupy a substantial new site in the centre, with significant on-street presence.
The two major projects represent a combined investment in CastleCourt by owner Wirefox, Omniplex Cinema Group and the family entertainment provider of £10.5m.
Wirefox director Lucy Elliott said: "From its inception in 1990, CastleCourt has been hugely popular with shoppers from all over Belfast and Northern Ireland.
“The addition of The Avenue by Omniplex and the high-end family entertainment and adventure offering signals CastleCourt and its wider area’s renewal and rejuvenation by offering memorable experiences people will want to repeat, in line with the changing shape of city high streets across the UK and Ireland.
"At the same time, we are seeing growth in our retail partners with new tenants and a new, bigger Starbucks making it the brand’s flagship operation in Northern Ireland. This blend of retail, leisure, bars, cafes and restaurants will attract more footfall to the city centre and enhance our visitors’ CastleCourt experience.
"The future for CastleCourt looks very strong and we are looking forward to work starting on these sites as soon as possible."
The Avenue by Omniplex will include nine luxury screen cinemas and a bar that is scheduled to open in December 2022.
It will accommodate up to 540 patrons offering an unmatched cinema experience to Belfast’s city centre - finished with plush interiors and comfortable sofa-like seats as standard in all screens.
Cinemagoers can swap out their usual cinema soft drink for a glass of wine, cocktail or draught beer, or sample a range of small plates, gourmet burgers or freshly made pizzas served directly to seats.
Omniplex Director Paul John Anderson added: "Working alongside Wirefox, we are delighted to have secured the necessary planning permission to progress with this scheme and can finally unveil more details of our luxury cinema brand ‘The Avenue’. Being the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, we hope that The Avenue will draw cinemagoers into the city centre for quality service in an intimate and luxurious cinema setting."
Commenting on the new lettings, Alana Coyle, Director at joint agent CBRE NI said: “Fresh off the back of the announcement of Schuh footwear joining the tenant line up within the scheme, it is exciting to be able to confirm the further addition of the leisure occupiers in addition to a new flagship Starbucks coffee shop creating a striking active frontage at the entrance to the scheme."
The construction and fit-out contract has been awarded to leading company GRAHAM.
Mark Gibson, Managing Director GRAHAM Interior Fit-Out said: "We are delighted to be working with the Wirefox team once again. Having completed several similar projects across the UK and Ireland, it’s exciting to see the innovative transformational plans envisaged for CastleCourt.
"At its peak, the delivery site will have 50+ operatives across multiple trades, which will create much welcomed new job and apprenticeship opportunities, vital for the local construction industry. We look forward to playing our part in the regeneration of one of the city’s most popular retail & leisure destinations."
Paul Wilson of joint agent Savills, which conducted the transactions continued: "Following the collapse of the Debenham’s department store chain and wider impact on the department store sector as a whole, it was clear there was no demand for a like-for-like replacement to this iconic and popular Belfast store.
"We carefully considered with the landlord the future opportunity this key piece of real estate presented, given its strategic positioning to the primary entrance to CastleCourt with added benefit of extensive frontage to Royal Avenue. This led to the ultimate repurposing of the space and we targeted a mix of leisure uses to complement the retail offer within the centre and ensure its relevance and hierarchy, integral to shape Belfast’s retail core and future offering.
"We are delighted to announce the approved redevelopment plans to accommodate Omniplex’s latest multi-screen cinema concept and the family entertainment and adventure scheme, which will bring a new dimension of fun and excitement to make CastleCourt the destination for shopping, eating, socialising and entertaining."
