Belfast City Council’s Development Committee and the Policy and Resources Committee gave their support to the Belfast Wheel in March 2006 as a way of marking the centenary of the City Hall and providing an attraction at City Hall during refurbishment work. The decision of the full Council was then delayed until October 2006 while issues surrounding cost and use of council land were addressed. The council permitted the operators of the wheel (World Tourist Attractions) to proceed with the project in October at a full meeting of the Council.

In February 2007 local media reported that the Wheel would be in place by June 2007 and would be removed in October 2007.

The Wheel did not arrive in Belfast until October 2007 however. The specially constructed structure was assembled over a period of two weeks and finally opened to the public in November 2007. The wheel at this stage was permitted to stay in the grounds of City Hall until the end of February 2008.

In February 2008 a planning application was lodged to extend the stay of the Wheel until the end of 2008 (0252/F). This received permission and the Wheel operated throughout 2008.

At the end 2008 the operators applied to extend the Wheel for a further period of time however the Environment Agency stepped in and objected to the extension. The Agency opposed the Wheel claiming that it had become permanent and that its location beside a grade one listed building was inappropriate. The Agency believed that they had to step in and prevent the operators continually seeking temporary planning approvals to effectively obtain permanent residency beside City Hall. The City Council overruled the Agency and allowed the Wheel to stay beside City Hall until the end of August 2009 due to its huge success and its popularity with tourists visiting the City.

In May 2009 a report in the local media alleged that the operators were considering moving the wheel to Dublin if they could not stay beside the City Hall. The operator explained that the central location was key to the success of the wheel and that another location within the city may not be financially viable. Belfast City Centre Management and The Chamber of Trade and Commerce both supported the wheel and lobbied for the Executive to step in and deal with the matter.

Later in May 2009 the operators received permission to retain the wheel at City Hall for a further two years until the end of August 2011. The Belfast Titanic Society expressed concern at the time of the renewal as the Titanic memorial is partially concealed by the structure. They want the memorial moved from it’s current location under the wheel if the wheel is still located beside City Hall in 2012 which marks one hundred years from the sinking of the Titanic.