Belfast City Council have shown their intent to give the green-light to plans for a new state-of-the-art aquarium in the Titanic Quarter. Planning officers at the council have recommended the project for approval, with the council set to make a decision this week. The £12 million reefLIVE attraction will be opposite the Titanic Hotel, a short distance from the Titanic Belfast attraction.
Once operational, the reefLIVE aquarium will create 50 new jobs, as well as 80-100 construction jobs and apprentices. Upon its opening in 2022, the new attraction is expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors each year, aiding the city’s recovery from the impact of COVID-19.
The aquarium will become the largest marine-life visitor attraction in the country, and promises to give visitors an immersive experience using high-quality live displays that bring to life the environment in which the sea creatures live.
“TV programmes such as the BBC’s Blue Planet 2 appeal across generations and strike a chord with a very wide audience, inspiring debate, engagement and activism about how we manage and protect our marine environment and wildlife,” said Managing Director, Keith Thomas. “We believe that UK Aquaria has a responsibility to prioritise their role in promoting the conservation of that environment through education and inspirational experiences.”
The exhibitions within the aquarium will seek to address the public’s increased focus on sustainability, and environmental issues, though cutting-edge technology. “We believe that this kind of fully involved experience can help influence or challenge behaviours, and shape the attitudes of a generation that already has so much access to information that they are no longer interested in generic or passive experiences,” continued Keith.
The aquarium building itself has been designed by Ethos Architects, whilst the interior of the building has been devised by a world-class aquarium design team led by Kay Elliot Architects and Theme 3 to create an aquarium fit for the 21st century.
