The former Wildwalk attraction site at the At-Bristol Science Centre will be turned into an aquarium.

At-Bristol has leased the space to Southampton-based Blue Reef Leisure, which will invest £4m in creating an aquarium showcasing both native and tropical marine and freshwater creatures in a themed habitat.

Blue Reef Leisure has also taken control of the adjacent Imax cinema site. At-Bristol was forced to close both the Wildwalk and the Imax cinema in April 2007, due to poor attendances.

Blue Reef will manage and operate the two sites on a 66-year lease from At-Bristol.

According to Goéry delacote, chief executive of At-Bristol, the science centre will work closely with Blue Reef to help to rejuvenate the Harbourside site, creating a cultural hub for both residents and visitors to the city.

“This brand new attraction will be the perfect addition to Bristol’s vibrant Harbourside,” he said.

“Its conservation message complements our science remit and we anticipate a long and successful relationship which will help both the science centre and our new neighbours.”

Work on the new attraction is due to begin in July 2008, with a public opening planned for summer 2009.

Blue Reef was selected to operate the site following a bidding process, funded by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), to find a new tenant for the building.

Ian Knight, area director at SWRDA, said: “As one of the original funders of At-Bristol, we have been working very closely with the Explore team to find a suitable new use for the Wildwalk building, in order to unlock the area's business potential.

“It was very important to find an occupier that would add to the creative and cultural offer at Harbourside at the same time as complementing the science centre.”

Blue Reef currently owns and operates four aquariums in the UK – in Portsmouth, Tynemout, Newquay, and Hastings – which attract more than 600,000 visitors a year.