BELFAST civic leaders have pledged to usher in an "exciting new era of growth" for the city with the unveiling of a new regeneration and investment strategy.
The strategy follows a previous investment programme which began in 2012 and the council said had delivered £300m worth of projects - twice as much as originally planned.
The council said it wanted to "transform the city by creating more jobs, increasing the population, attracting new retail offerings, and further developing the burgeoning tourism industry".
Among proposals are to to aid the relocation of the BBC to the area around the new Ulster University campus and Belfast Central Library.
The BBC plans to leave its Ormeau Avenue base but has not decided on a new base.
The council said relocating into a new 'creative hub' would "transform" transform that part of the city.
It also wants to address Belfast's dearth of Grade A office space by demolishing "redundant stock" to be replaced by top class facilities with development focused on Great Victoria Street/Bedford Street, City Quays area and the Titanic Quarter.
It also plans to develop city centre green areas for cyclists and walkers and establish Belfast as a destination for "adrenalin recreational tourism".
Belfast deputy lord mayor Guy Spence said a "new era was beckoning for Belfast".
"With the new powers that have come our way with local government reform - land use planning, community planning, regeneration, increased tourism powers - we now have the opportunity to build on current successes," he said.
"But we need to work in partnership with developers, business people, entrepreneurs and government agencies to deliver. We, as a council, can become the enablers, to make it easier for developers to develop, businesses to do business, for people to work live and play here. We all have a part to play."
The council also unveiled an £18.7 million City Centre Investment Fund to support the strategy.
It allows the council to support projects brought forward by others that will impact on the city centre economy.
The proposals were welcomed by chief executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) Glyn Roberts.
"A strong and vibrant Belfast city centre is of vital importance to the economy of Northern Ireland as a whole, sustaining thousands of retail and service sector jobs. The city centre has a 20 per cent vacancy rate which is nearly double the UK average and urgent action is needed to address this challenge," he said.
"NIIRTA strongly supports this comprehensive and ambitious plan to create a 21st Century City Centre with its retail sector playing a leading role in its regeneration.
"Amongst the plans eight core objectives we are pleased that it clearly identifies the need for more independent retailers in the city centre, alongside a new car parking strategy, a unified 'city app' and greater connectivity with neighbourhoods across the city as a whole."
