Victoria Square, Belfast

Victoria Square, Belfast is a commercial, residential and leisure development in Belfast, Northern Ireland developed and built by Multi Development UK over 6 years. At approx 800,000ft² (75,000m²) and costing £400m it is the biggest and one of the most expensive property developments ever undertaken in Northern Ireland. It opened on March 6, 2008. Its anchor tenant at nearly 200,000ft² (18,581m²) is the largest House of Fraser that the retailer has opened in the UK (as opposed to taken over).

Design

A key element in the development is two covered, multi-level streets linked to the massive glass dome measuring 35 m in diameter. A public square covered entirely by the glass dome serves as the hub of the entire area. An ornate memorial fountain (Jaffe Fountain), constructed in the 1870s to honour a leading Victorian Belfast businessman has been restored to its original location in Victoria Square. Victoria Square is a neighbourhood consisting of 17 contextual different buildings. Pedestrian links to nearby business, nightlife and shopping streets on Laganside, Donegall Place, Royal Avenue and 18 Saint Ann Street. Victoria Square includes a wide variety of shops for males, females and children as well as a wonderful 80ft viewing area.

Sustainability

In employment terms, over 3,000 people were involved in the construction phase of Victoria Square, with a further 3,000 people gaining employment in the scheme through jobs in retail (eg. Olwyn Hooper), security and the service industries.
Environmentally, a large section of the roof has been covered in Sedum in a direct attempt to reduce the carbon footprint of Victoria Square. This material soaks up rainwater allowing it to evaporate naturally over time rather than overload draining systems.
Victoria Square is the largest ever retail-led regeneration scheme to open in Northern Ireland, covering 1.8 hectares. Multi Development UK was appointed Department for Social Development’s development partner in 2000. The scheme was granted outline-planning approval in 2002. Multi Development sold Victoria Square to Commerz Real in 2004.
Victoria Square is today valued at over £400m. Works commenced in April 2004 and lasted 46 months to completion and were overseen by local joint venture contractors Farrans and Gilbert Ash. Sedum roof installed by BBS Green Roofing.

Key Facts

* Regenerated the southern quarter of Belfast’s city centre
* Approx. 800,000ft² (75,000m²) of retail over four floors
* Has added to Belfast city centre’s shopping offer by nearly a third
* Q-Park provides 2 levels of basement parking with c. 1,000 spaces
* 98 unit shops – ranging in size from c. 300ft² (2,787m²) to c. 60,000ft² (5,574m²), Leisure units including an 8 screen Odeon Cinema, restaurants, bars and cafés
* 106 apartments
* New public space topped by the dome with viewing zone overlooking the sedum roof installed by BBS Green Roofing
* Pedestrian links to nearby business, nightlife and shopping streets on Laganside, Donegall Place, Royal Avenue and Ann Street.
* 39 signed new retailers to Belfast and Northern Ireland including: House of Fraser, Cruise, Hugo Boss, Reiss, All Saints, Ted Baker, Puma, Pepe Jeans, LK Bennett, H&M, Coast, Firetrap, The Pier, Pumpkin Patch, Tom Tailor, Geox, Faith, Fossil, Regis, Free Spirit, Spur, Nandos, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Prezzo, Odeon Cinemas, Urban Outfitters, Hardy Amies, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Apple Store, Rituals, Lainidor, Pull and Bear, Laptop Shop, Art and Hobby, T.G.I. Friday's, Dantes, Chilis, Maggiganos, Frankie and Bennies
* 17.2 million people expected to visit Victoria Square per year placing it in the top ten shopping centres in the UK.
* Victoria Square is experiencing decresing popularity with the male poulation of Belfast as the complex's shops are mainly aimed at a female market.

References

See also

* Belfast

External links

* [http://www.victoriasquare.com Victoria Square]
* [http://www.multi-development.com Multi Development UK]
* [http://www.jonnie5.com/?p=80 The View from the Dome]