Multi Development’s £400 million regeneration scheme turns Belfast into a shopping mecca
Last night the First Minister, The Rt Hon Dr I R K Paisley MP MLA, the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness MP MLA and the Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie MLA have lead the Opening Ceremony of the long awaited Victoria Square retail led regeneration scheme in Belfast.
The Ceremony was attended by Multi Corporation’s Chairman Hans van Veggel, Multi Development UK’s Managing Director Paul Sargent, Belfast’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Jim Rodgers, House of Fraser’s Chief Executive, John King and many other retailers and dignitaries. Eamonn Holmes performed master of ceremonies. Guests enjoyed a spectacular light and sound show that marked the Opening of the 800,000 sq ft (75,000 m²) project.
The presence of both the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister emphasized that the project with its landmark Dome and mixed use functions is a fundamental part of the regeneration of Belfast and evidence of the city’s renaissance
10 years after the Good Friday agreement. Developer is Multi Development UK. Investor is Commerz Real and Concept Architects are T+T Design.
Speaking at the Official Opening of the scheme, Paul Sargent, Managing Director Multi Development UK said: “The Department for Social Development, CGI and Multi Development have not just built a shopping centre - far from it. Jointly, we have created a catalyst for the sustainable regeneration of Northern Ireland’s capital city.
A development like this only happens once in a lifetime and it is far more than the simple sum of its component parts. This is the new social and cultural meeting point of a once divided city.”
“The enthusiasm for an innovative concept and trust in the cooperation with experienced partners were contributory factors in our decision to invest in Victoria Square. Commerz Real is proud to be part of the project, as it will bring a whole new dimension to the Centre of Belfast”, said Hans-Joachim Kühl, Board Member of Commerz Real in charge of real estate acquisitions.
Sustainable Public Space
Hans van Veggel, Chairman of Multi Corporation said: “This week Multi has opened two major projects in Europe. Espacio Buenavista in Oviedo, Spain and Victoria Square in Belfast. Both projects give a new identity to their location. Both projects provide sustainable public space. A coherent public space that ‘works’ has its own internal logic, with squares and streets and allowance made for green space, light and shade. Ideally, there is multiple use of space. Multi is developing eye-catching projects in numerous of European cities, centring on such innovations as underground shopping centres with green roofs and linking existing green routes in the city. Through multiple use of land, one can ensure that the limited space is used optimally. By developing projects that are both meaningful to the people who use them as well as adapted to community life Multi has rolled out a retail development success story in Europe as inner-city regeneration specialist. Victoria Square is certainly one of the jewels in the crown and the biggest one of its kind in Europe that has opened”.
Concept Design
In designing Victoria Square, Multi Development’s in-house architects T+T Design together with BDP Architects, have created a new urban area, with the new streets and buildings forming a harmonious whole with those already existing.
A key element in the plan 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 will serve as the hub of the entire area. An ornate memorial fountain (Jaffe Fountain), constructed in the 1870s to honour a leading businessman Victorian Belfast has been restored to its original location in Victoria Square. Victoria Square is a neighbourhood consisting of 17 contextual different buildings creating exciting public spaces and streets, boutique shops and recapturing the grandeur of turn-of-the-century department stores. Pedestrian links to nearby business, nightlife and shopping streets on Laganside, Donegal Place, Royal Avenue and Ann Street.
Retail Offer
Victoria Square opened 92% let and Multi Development is committed to letting the remaining units by June. Multi Development has attracted over 39 new retail brands to Northern Ireland alone with a tenant mix aimed at the middle to high end of the market. Retailers with no previous representation in Northern Ireland include House of Fraser, Hamleys, Cruise, Hugo Boss, Urban Outfitters, ODEON cinema, All Saints, The Pier, Billabong and Reiss among others. New names to Northern Ireland’s restaurant offer include Chili’s and Maggianos, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Nandos.
With Victoria Square opening, Belfast’s retail offer has increased by almost a third. 98 unit shops, including a
200,000sq ft House of Fraser, 106 apartments and underground parking for 1,000 cars comprise the mix of retail, leisure and residential uses at Victoria Square.
Anchor tenant House of Fraser will be Northern Ireland’s largest department store as well as the largest House of Fraser to open in the UK and Ireland. Baugur Group have invested over £13 million in the Belfast store due to Belfast’s size and structure, customer profile and the match with House of Fraser and the location in terms of size, configuration and surrounding tenant mix.
Sustainability
Victoria Square embodies Multi Development’s philosophy of sustainable development in town centres. 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, security and the service industries.
Environmentally, a large section of the roof has been covered in Sedum, a combination of moss and heather, 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.
Victoria Square, Belfast:
• Regenerating the southern quarter of Belfast’s city centre
• Approx. 800,000ft² (75,000m²) of retail over three floors
• Will add to Belfast city centre’s shopping offer by nearly a third
• Two 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
• Pedestrian links to nearby business, nightlife and shopping streets on Laganside, Donegal Place, Royal Avenue and Ann Street.
• 39 signed new retailers to Belfast & NI including:
House of Fraser, Cruise, Hugo Boss, Reiss, All Saints, Ted Baker, Puma, Pepe, LK Bennett, H&M, Coast, Firetrap,
The Pier, Pumpkin Patch, Tom Tailor, Geox, Faith, Fossil, Regis, Free Spirit, Spur, Nandos, GBK, Prezzo, ODEON, Urban Outfitters, Hardy Amies, Build a Bear, Apple, Rituals, Lainidor, Pull and Bear, Laptop Shop, Art and Hobby, TGI Friday, Dantes, Chillis, 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.