2. The story so far
Overview
Belfast Stories is a transformational project with the overall aim of providing a new anchor visitor destination in Belfast city centre for locals and visitors. Belfast Stories responds to current and future needs by delivering a sustainable form of tourism development through providing three things as one: public spaces, a visitor attraction and a creative hub. In doing so, it is greater than the sum of its parts - acting as a catalyst for the economic, social and cultural regeneration of the Belfast City Region.
The bigger picture
Work towards the realisation of Belfast Stories has been ongoing since 2015 when the ambition for a visitor attraction of scale was set out in the Belfast City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy. The Belfast Agenda (2017), the cultural strategy, City Imagining (2020) and the tourism plan, Make Yourself at Home (2022), also recognise and support the need for a new visitor attraction of scale in Belfast city centre to enhance the existing offering and increase tourism in Northern Ireland.
A Strategic Outline Case (SOC) for Belfast Stories was completed in 2018 and the landmark development was announced in December 2021 as a flagship project within the tourism and regeneration strand of the Belfast Region City Deal. Site Acquisition completed in 2022 and the first public consultation on the project was also completed in the same year.
In 2023, following the completion of an international design concept competition for an Integrated Design Team, Belfast City Council appointed as lead architects Oslo-based Snøhetta in partnership with Belfast-based TODD Architects. In April 2024, they were joined by Ralph Applebaum Associates (RAA) supported by Barker Langham, to deliver the Interpretive Masterplan and Concept Design for the overall visitor experience.
An Outline Business Case (OBC) was submitted to Department for Economy in May 2025 with a decision on funding anticipated in early 2026.
