Referral of the proposed subsidy to Belfast City Council by the Department for the Economy
The Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) has accepted a request for a report providing advice to the Department for the Economy (DfE) concerning its proposed subsidy to Belfast City Council (BCC).
Administrative timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 25 March 2026 | SAU’s report to be published |
| 24 February 2026 | Deadline for receipt of any third-party submissions |
| 11 February 2026 | Beginning of reporting period |
Request from DfE
11 February 2026: The SAU has accepted a request for a report from DfE concerning the proposed subsidy to BCC. This request relates to a Subsidy of Particular Interest.
The SAU will prepare a report, which will provide an evaluation of the DfE’s assessment of whether the subsidy complies with the subsidy control requirements (Assessment of Compliance). The SAU will complete its report within 30 working days.
Information about the subsidy provided by DfE
The Department for the Economy (DfE), as Accountable Department for the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD), is proposing to award £65,000,000 of public funding to Belfast City Council (BCC) as the Project Promoter of the Belfast Stories Project to build a world class tourism attraction on the corner of Royal Avenue and North Street in Belfast City Centre. The project aims to attract 1.5 million visitors (including 1 million paying visitors) per annum to Belfast and NI and encourage them to stay longer, spend more during their stay contributing to direct GVA impacts of £358 million between 2025 to 2026 and 2055 to 2056.
BCC will be receiving funding from DfE under the agreed terms of the BRCD signed in December 2021. The subsidy will be provided to BCC for the delivery period of the Project (2026 to 2032) and will be conditional on the terms and conditions of a Contract for Funding that will be signed in 2026 between the DfE and BCC.
Investment in the Belfast Stories Project will include:
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a dynamic visitor attraction consisting of a ticketed innovative and interactive exhibition extending over 2000m2 which will tell the story of the city and its people through a range of immersive media, two screen auditoria and studio that extend programming and storytelling
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a creative hub which will sustain the long-term viability of storytelling across the site by providing facilities and programmes to support the renewal and refresh of the visitor exhibition. It will also increase the accessibility and visibility of the screen and creative sectors
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high-quality, shared public spaces which will bring local people and international visitors together. A roof top garden will offer unrivalled views of the surrounding cityscape and Belfast Hills. Innovative event spaces will provide a mix of indoor and outdoor areas to be programmed and activated supported by outlets to showcase local food, beverage and retail
Information for third parties
If you wish to comment on matters relevant to the SAU’s evaluation of the Assessment of Compliance concerning the proposed subsidy to BCC, please send your comments on the date stipulated in the timetable above. For guidance on representations relevant to the Assessment of Compliance, see the section on reporting period and transparency in the Operation of the subsidy control functions of the Subsidy Advice Unit.
Please send your submissions to us at sau-belfaststories2026@cma.gov.uk, copying the public authority: citydeal.pmo@economy-ni.gov.uk.
Please also provide a contact address and explain in what capacity you are making the submission (for example, as an individual or a representative of a business or organisation).
Notes to third parties wishing to make a submission
The SAU will only take your submission into account if it can be shared with DfE. The SAU will send a copy of your submission to DfE together with its report. This is to allow the public authority to take account of the submission in its decision as to whether to grant or modify the subsidy or its assessment. We therefore ask that you provide express consent for your full and unredacted submission to be shared. We also encourage you to share your submission directly with DfE using the email address provided above.
The SAU may use the information you provide in its published report. Therefore, you should indicate in your submission whether any specified parts of it are commercially confidential. If the SAU wishes to refer in its published report to material identified as confidential, it will contact you in advance.
For further details on confidentiality of third party submissions, see identifying confidential information in the Operation of the subsidy control functions of the Subsidy Advice Unit.
Contacts
- SAU project team: sau-belfaststories2026@cma.gov.uk
- CMA press team: 020 3738 6460 or press@cma.gov.uk