Belfast Ferris Wheel Plans Submitted for Site Beside Grand Central Station

Plans for a new Belfast Ferris wheel have been submitted to Belfast City Council, potentially bringing a new visitor attraction to the area surrounding Grand Central Station.

The proposal would see a temporary Ferris wheel installed at the former Europa Bus Centre site on Glengall Street, close to the HALT market and the wider Weavers Cross regeneration development.

The application was included in the council’s planning advertisements published on Friday 9 October 2026 and remains subject to approval.

If permission is granted, the attraction could become a new feature of Belfast city centre, providing another leisure activity for residents and visitors travelling through the area.

Belfast Ferris wheel proposed for Glengall Street

The planning application relates to land at the former Europa Bus Centre, 12–22 Glengall Street, Belfast.

The site sits within the wider area undergoing redevelopment following the opening of Belfast Grand Central Station.

The application, submitted on 18 September 2026, is registered under reference LA04/2026/1675/F and is described as a proposal for a temporary Ferris wheel.

Although the proposal has been publicly advertised, planning permission has not yet been granted.

Further details about the attraction’s proposed height, passenger capacity, ticket prices and operating hours have not been established from the published application summary.

New attraction planned beside HALT market

The proposed Belfast Ferris wheel would be located close to the HALT market, which forms part of the changing streetscape around Weavers Cross.

The Linen Quarter Business Improvement District highlighted the proposal in an update published on 29 September, identifying the planned attraction as being beside the market.

The location is close to Grand Central Station, one of Northern Ireland’s main public transport hubs, with bus, coach and rail services connecting Belfast with destinations across the region and beyond.

A Ferris wheel in this location could offer an additional reason for people to visit the surrounding area, particularly those arriving in the city by public transport.

However, the application does not yet establish whether the attraction would operate seasonally, during a particular event or for a longer temporary period.

Belfast Ferris wheel could complement Weavers Cross regeneration

The proposed attraction comes as work continues to transform the area around Grand Central Station into a new city centre neighbourhood.

Weavers Cross is a major regeneration project being developed around the transport hub, with plans for offices, residential accommodation, hotels, retail facilities and leisure uses.

The wider development is intended to improve connections between the city centre and neighbouring communities while attracting new investment and activity.

According to Belfast City Council, the Weavers Cross masterplan includes approximately 1.5 million square feet of mixed-use development.

The project is being progressed by Translink and development partner MRP.

A temporary Ferris wheel would be a separate planning proposal, rather than confirmation of a permanent attraction within the wider regeneration scheme.

Nevertheless, its location beside the station and existing leisure facilities could help draw attention to an area experiencing significant change.

What happens next for the proposed Belfast Ferris wheel?

Belfast City Council will consider the application through the normal planning process.

The assessment may include the proposed attraction’s visual impact, public safety, access arrangements and any effects on nearby properties or surrounding public spaces.

The application must receive the necessary approval before the proposed Ferris wheel can proceed.

At present, no confirmed opening date, ticketing arrangements or operator details have been established from the published planning notice.

Anyone wishing to examine the proposal can search for planning reference LA04/2026/1675/F through the Northern Ireland Planning Portal.

The Belfast Ferris wheel proposal is one of several recent planning developments that could change the appearance and use of sites across the city centre.

For now, the site remains as it is, with the proposed attraction awaiting a planning decision.

Link: Planning Portal (Ref: LA04/2026/1675/F)

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