21/03/2024

BCC Unveils Refreshed Strategic Plan For Belfast City Centre

New plans to support the most vulnerable in Belfast while growing the economy, regenerating neighbourhoods and achieving climate targets have been published in a refreshed strategic plan for the city.

First published in 2017, the Belfast Agenda set out joint vision for the city up to 2035. With significant economic, social and environmental changes in recent years, it has been reviewed and updated to reflect current priorities.

City partners have agreed to deliver a significant programme of actions by 2028 which will include building 6,000 new homes, planting 150,000 trees, reducing chronic homelessness, increasing the number of business start-ups by 20 percent and reducing the economic inactivity rate by five percent each year.

Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Ryan Murphy said: "Since we first published the original Belfast Agenda seven years ago, there have been seismic changes both economically and politically as a result of Brexit, the global impacts of Covid-19, austerity measures, societal changes and the ongoing climate emergency.

"While our vision for Belfast and its people hasn’t changed, when we began the process of reviewing the Belfast Agenda it was clear that city partners and the public had new priorities, so we needed to rethink our approach, re-evaluate how we utilise our resources and establish ambitious new targets.

"Developing the Belfast Agenda is a complex process as it involves numerous community planning partners, the community and voluntary sector, educational institutions and representatives from the private sector. Today therefore marks a major milestone for the city as we move forward together with a comprehensive strategic plan which aims to ensure that Belfast will become the city that we want it to be."

Statutory and community partners involved in co-designing the Belfast Agenda include Belfast City Council, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, Education Authority, Invest NI, Libraries NI, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Public Health Agency, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Sport NI, Tourism NI, Belfast Area Partnership Boards and the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sectoral Advisory Panel.

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

10 August 2023
Belfast Agenda Sets Plans For City Improvements
Ambitious new targets to improve Belfast and tackle current issues are included in the Belfast Agenda, the city's key strategic plan. First published in 2017, the Belfast Agenda sets out a joint vision for the city up to 2035.
23 July 2013
Phase 1 Of Connswater Community Greenway Begins
Belfast City Council has confirmed work has started at Victorian and Orangefield Parks. The work, which got underway yesterday, is part of the first phase of the Connswater Community Greenway scheme. BSG Civil Engineering Ltd, who are delivering the works, will be on site in both parks, as construction begins on the £35m project.
24 August 2011
Connswater Contract Dispute Played Down
A major contract for east Belfast that promises a picturesque, riverside linear park as well as enhanced flood protection is on track for completion - despite fears being expressed earlier this week over a dispute between the contractors and one of the sponsors.
15 March 2011
Garnerville Community Project Welcomed
The first meeting of a group established to deliver improved services in the Knocknagoney/Garnerville area of East Belfast has been welcomed.
19 September 2018
Primark Donates £500,000 To Support Businesses Affected By Fire
Retailer Primark is donating £500,000 to Belfast City Council's City Recovery Investment Fund. The fund is being set up after a number of businesses have been severely affected by the fire at the Bank Buildings which happened over three weeks ago. A cordon remains in place and 14 firms have been closed for up to four months.