Eager shoppers descended on Belfast city centre this morning, as the grand opening of the much-anticipated Victoria Square got underway in spectacular style.

A brass band, a dance troupe, tap dancers and aerial acrobats thrilled the sizeable crowd during the opening fanfare, to celebrate the unveiling of one of the most important projects of Irish, urban regeneration in recent times.

The £400m, 800,000 sq ft centre features an eye-catching glass dome – based on Belfast's City Hall - which will no doubt become an instantly iconic addition to the modern Belfast skyline.

Developed by Multi Development and wholly owned by German Investment Fun, CGI, Victoria Square took six years to complete and will increase the amount of retail outlets in central Belfast by a third.

Multi Development's in-house architects, T+T Design and Building Design Partnership, Belfast, designed the centre, which encompasses four levels of covered, pedestrianised streets.

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The centre was built by Farrans-Gilbert Ash JV, a joint venture involving two local building contractors at a cost of £150m. Around 6,000 people were involved in the construction.

Speaking at the official opening of the centre on Wednesday evening, Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie welcomed the completion of the scheme.

Mr Paisley said: "This evening's opening marks a brand new chapter in the history of Belfast and Northern Ireland. This magnificent regeneration scheme not only places the city at the top of the UK agenda for retail investment but will help to attract significant investment and prosperity for years to come.

Mr McGuinness added: "I want to add my congratulations to all those who have delivered this scheme which is a tribute to Dutch design, German investment, and our own construction and regeneration know-how.

"Multi Development, CGI, Farrans Gilbert Ash and the Department for Social Development should all take a bow for their contributions in delivering the vision of Victoria Square."

Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie MLA said: "Belfast is ready to seize the potential for thousands of new jobs from growth in the retail and leisure sectors. The City is proving itself once again as a great destination for retail, offices, leisure and city centre living.

Victoria Square is expected to attract over 17 million people annually, which will place it in the UK's top ten shopping centres.

(VB/NS)