A new 120,000 square foot cinema, entertainment and retail complex in Belfast’s CastleCourt has been given the green light by the city council.
The projects mark almost £11 million of investment in the shopping complex off Royal Avenue with 125 construction jobs also being created during the landlord conversion and build, and up to 130 full and part-time jobs created upon completion.
Councillors approved the planning applications for the Omniplex Cinema occupying part of the former Debenhams department store site at the shopping centre, while a family entertainment scheme has also been approved.
The cinema will include nine luxury screens alongside bar facilities under Omniplex’s luxury cinema brand ‘The Avenue’ and is scheduled to open in December.
The overhaul of the city centre site will also see a new flagship Starbucks store and another 40,000 sq ft earmarked for other retail activity.
Wirefox – owner of the CastleCourt centre – said the ambitious plans signal the area’s “wider renewal and rejuvenation”.
Source: Belfast Telegraph (link opens in new window)