MASSIVE £100 million extension to the Odyssey complex in Belfast has been given the go ahead by planners. Outline permission has been granted for the redevelopment of the almost seven hectare site at Queen's Quay which is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs.
It allows for the construction of almost 800 new homes, 9,700 sq ft of retail space, 14,000 sq ft of leisure space as well as cafes, bars and restaurants and space for community and cultural.
The scheme will also include a large multi-storey car park.
It will form part of the Odyssey complex which also includes the 10,000-seater Odyssey Arena, the Pavilion with its cinema, bars and W5 interactive science discovery centre.
Brian Hughes, operations director at the Odyssey Trust which owns the complex said it was "a major milestone towards the redevelopment of Queens Quay at Odyssey".
"It has always been our ambition to create an exemplar mixed-use space that will enhance the success of Odyssey. The development will create a seamless connection between the city centre and the extensive Titanic Quarter, providing an extended leisure offer, new homes and much needed quality jobs," he said.
Sheila Murphy, an associate director at Belfast planning consultants Turley Associates which helped secure the decision said: "The planning for this scheme was submitted back in 2009 and we are absolutely delighted with this decision. It is the largest redevelopment scheme the city has seen for many years and will complete and complement Odyssey. It will also create more than 1,000 new jobs plus a further 800 jobs during the construction phase."
Turley Associates led the consultancy team providing planning and urban design services. RPS Consultants acted as consultant engineers and HJ Lyons Architects provided architectural services.
Work on the next phase of the project is expected to begin immediately.
The announcement appears to signal a return to better times for the Odyssey after the pavilion fell into administration three and a half years ago.
At that time, its then owner Peter Curistan owed Anglo Irish Bank £71m.
The pavilion was eventually put on the market for £10m last year on the instructions of administrators KPMG and was bought by the trust.