Belfast City Council plans a £100m visitor attraction called Belfast Stories at the former Bank of Ireland building on Royal Avenue and North Street junction. The project will use words, pictures and sounds to cover the city's past, present and future. Construction aims to start in 2027 with an opening by 2030.

An event space in the development could serve as a TV studio for the BBC and other groups. BBC Northern Ireland director Adam Smyth said the corporation will not tell Belfast's stories or run the visitor attraction. He noted BBC interest lies in a potential studio space and offering archive resources to partners like Belfast City Council and Northern Ireland Screen.

Smyth stated 80% of BBC production work comes from independent companies. He said the corporation seeks to boost the local creative economy through more studio production.

Sinn Féin councillor Áine McCabe opposed BBC involvement as an anchor tenant at a recent Belfast City Council meeting. She questioned council support for the BBC in the project. A council official halted public discussion and cleared media from the chamber due to commercial matters.

Sinn Féin holds the largest number of seats on the council but lacks an overall majority. A party spokesperson said no comment until a final agreement.