Sinn Féin blocks BBC studio deal for £100m Belfast Stories

A proposed agreement for studio space between Belfast City Council and the BBC within the £100m Belfast Stories project is at risk after a council committee, primarily influenced by Sinn Féin, voted 11-8 against it. Sinn Féin contends that the council should not engage financially with a state broadcaster. The Belfast Stories center, set to open in 2030 at the former Bank of Ireland building on Royal Avenue, aims to showcase the city’s history, present, and future through various media. The BBC intended to utilize the event space for 140 days annually over a decade, without exclusive branding. Supporters include the DUP and Alliance Party, while the SDLP and Green Party oppose it. Alliance councillor Jenna Maghie called for a reassessment, highlighting its potential effects on Northern Ireland's creative sector. A full council vote may occur on Wednesday evening. The event space is reportedly larger than initially planned, possibly incurring an additional £10m in costs, but the council would benefit financially from the BBC and other users.