Omniplex plans to open a nine-screen luxury cinema, taking up much of the 80,000 sq ft space vacated by Debenhams in May 2021.

It is envisaged a mix of retail, hospitality and leisure use will fill the remainder.

NI Water had initially objected citing insufficient wastewater treatment capacity for the development, stating: “The public system cannot presently serve this development proposal without significant risk of environmental harm.”

Wastewater treatment works in the area are due to be upgraded by July 2023. But that remains dependent on prioritisation and funding.

However, talks between NI Water and CastleCourt’s owners Wirefox provided reassurances over reduced footfall in the area due to the impact of Covid-19.

Wirefox provided evidence projecting footfall in 2023 will be 8 million, down from 10.5 million in 2019 and therefore resulting in reduced water demand.

Based on the objection being formally withdrawn, city planning officials recommended approving the development and Belfast City Council gave it the green light on Wednesday, March 2.

Council officials noted that Wirefox “is under an extremely tight timeframe” for the prospective tenants to be able to fit out the units for opening by late October/mid-November 2022.

Omniplex Director, Paul John Anderson said: “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.”

The construction and fit-out contract has been awarded to leading company GRAHAM.

Mark Gibson, MD of GRAHAM Interior Fit-Out, said: “Having completed several similar projects across the UK and Ireland, it’s exciting to see the innovative transformational plans envisaged for CastleCourt.

“The GRAHAM Interior Fit-Out team are proud to bring together localised delivery partners to revitalise the vacated Debenhams unit into a vibrant retail & leisure space.

“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.”

The post CastleCourt cinema and leisure hub gets green light first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The nine-screen cinema is expected to include a licenced bar and super comfort seating within an intimate and luxurious setting.

Omniplex director Paul John Anderson says this development will be like no other the group has undertaken.

“We are going to do something very special in CastleCourt,” he said.

“Expect to see new and never-before-seen levels of luxury, quality and service for an afternoon or night out at the cinema.

“We are incredibly excited by the project which will breathe new life into Belfast’s city centre and we aim to have it fully operational before Christmas 2022.”

Omniplex Cinema Group is one of two new anchor tenants taking over the 80,000sq ft of space vacated by anchor tenant Debenhams earlier this year.

The fit out and construction of the 9-screen cinema will create up to 80 jobs. Once operational, the Omniplex will employ 40 people full and part time.

CastleCourt centre manager Leona Barr says the arrival of Omniplex is a significant step towards the regeneration of Belfast city centre.

“We are thrilled to confirm Omniplex as one of the two new anchor tenants in CastleCourt. Not only are the jobs and investment they bring to the heart of Belfast significant, they will also play a central role in revitalising the city centre,” Ms Barr said.

“The high streets of cities across the UK and Ireland have been changing shape and adapting to the new desires and demands of shoppers and visitors.

“More retail with attractive and substantial leisure attractions as well as quality bars, cafes and restaurants enhances the city centre experience and CastleCourt’s offer will deliver this.”

CastleCourt shopping centre has reported strong performance with a dramatic increase in customer spend since reopening on April 30.  It is home to 80 retailers employing a total of 1,000 people.

When it opened in 1990, the brainchild of then Economy minister Sir Richard Needham, it was the largest shopping centre in Northern Ireland with  335,000 sq feet of retail space across two floors.

The post Omniplex Cinema Group to launch new 9 screen cinema at CastleCourt in Belfast first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.