Belfast Region City Deal partners have said that confirmation of the NI Executive’s match funding of new investment for infrastructure, regeneration, and tourism projects will help the region’s economy recover from the effects of COVID-19.
The announcement from the Finance Minister brings the overall investment in the Belfast Region City Deal to £850 million, including £150m from the Belfast Region City Deal partners. The announcement also included welcomed support of £252 million for the Mid, South & West City Deal, £210 million for Derry City and Strabane City Deal and £72 million for Causeway Coast and Glens City Deal.
The Executive has also agreed to provide up to an additional £100 million for complementary projects where partners can demonstrate a viable capital project which is complementary to the City/Growth Deal proposals.
The Belfast City Region includes the six councils of Belfast, Newry, Mourne and Down, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ards and North Down, Lisburn and Castlereagh and Mid and East Antrim. This unique partnership also involves Queen’s and Ulster universities, Belfast Metropolitan College and the regional Further Education colleges.
Speaking on behalf of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Council Chairperson, Councillor Charlie Casey said, “We are in challenging times however, we are a strong and resilient economy. Confirmation of further investment for City Deals ensure that as a Council we can take forward significant investment in regeneration through a new theatre and conferencing facility with City Centre regeneration, investment in tourism through a Gateway to the Mourne’s visitor attraction, investment in infrastructure via the Southern Relief Road, investment in our digital and innovation infrastructure, and enhanced skills and employability opportunities. Working collectively at the City Deal level, this investment will allow us to support our local economy, improve quality of life and create much needed jobs”.
It is anticipated that the Belfast Region City Deal will deliver more than 20 projects that will help grow business strengths in life and health sciences; ICT, digital and creative industries, and advanced manufacturing. It will also support digital development and tourism-led regeneration across the entire region, underpinned by infrastructure developments and investment in skills to connect people to jobs and services.
These projects will help to create new types of jobs for the future, underpinned by re-skilling programmes, by focusing on the region’s competitive strengths. They will also have a positive impact on the most deprived communities, delivering a balanced spread of benefits across the region.
For more information on what the Belfast Region City Deal will deliver, go to www.newrymournedown.org/belfast-region-city-deal and follow #BRcitydeal on Twitter.
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