Aquarium and Tribeca get go-ahead
A STATE-OF-THE-ART aquarium has been given the go-ahead for Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.
The decision to green-light the £12m reef LIVE aquarium was made at August’s planning committee meeting, with the attraction to be located on the Queen’s Road opposite the Titanic Hotel.
Belfast City Council have also approved plans for the controversial £500m Tribeca shops and apartments scheme in the centre of the city. Belfast Chamber’s Chief Executive Simon Hamilton welcomed the news.
PLANS for a £12m aquarium have been given the go-ahead by Belfast City Council.
The decision to green light the reef LIVE aquarium was made at August’s planning committee meeting, with the attraction to be located on Queen’s Road opposite the Titanic Hotel and a short distance from Titanic Belfast.
Keith Thomas, managing director of reef LIVE Ltd, said: “We are thrilled with Belfast City Council’s decision to approve our aquarium, which has received a tremendous amount of public support since its original announcement last year.
“Our commitment to building our first reef LIVE aquarium in Belfast is testament to the city’s track record for tourism excellence and an unwavering confidence that sustained investment in Northern Ireland’s tourism and leisure sector will prove vital for the region’s recovery in a post-covid world.”
The investors hope it will become the largest marine life attraction for tourists across Ireland.
With an opening date set for 2022, it’s hoped the prime location can help reef LIVE attract 300,000 visitors each year and create 50 jobs.
The aquarium’s exterior has been designed by Ethos Architects, while the interior has been devised by a world-leading design team led by Kay Elliott Architects and Theme 3 to create “an aquarium for the 21st century”.
The council has also approved plans for the £500m Tribeca scheme in the centre of Belfast.
The scheme has attracted controversy, with over 500 letters of objection having been received by Belfast City Council since July.
The decision, however, was welcomed by Belfast Chamber chief executive Simon Hamilton.
“This £500m investment will create 600 jobs during construction and 1,600 when finished and regenerate this important part of the city. It’s a much needed boost for the Belfast economy,” he said.