Belfast Region City Deal agreed
This co-investment from the UK government, local government, the universities and private sector will deliver a 10 year programme of inclusive economic growth.
The Deal’s central objective is to make the Belfast Region a global investment destination, with the aim of creating 20,000 new and better jobs in the sectors that have experiencing most rapid growth and have potential to become world leaders.
It will focus on four key investment pillars:
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Digital and Innovation
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Infrastructure
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Tourism Led Regeneration
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Skills and Employability
Belfast Regional City Deal partners
The universities are committing significant capital to the Belfast Region City Deal and local authority partners Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ards and North Down, Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh, Mid and East Antrim and Newry, Mourne and Down have committed £100 million.
The six councils have been working with Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, Belfast Metropolitan College and other Further Education Colleges - and in close collaboration with the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Treasury to agree the priority projects for this programme of investment.
Aims of the Belfast Regional City Deal
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Establishment of a Global Innovation Institute focusing on already successful sectors in the city, including cybersecurity, financial services, healthcare and agri-food;
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Creation of further centres of innovation, focused on manufacturing, creative industries and life and health sciences;
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Investment in digital connectivity to enable businesses across the region to connect to new markets and opportunities;
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Investment in new tourist attractions to attract both domestic and international visitors. This would include a new landmark venue in Belfast to tell the story of the city; development of facilities at Hillsborough and Carrickfergus castles; an extension of the Gobbins coastal path; the regeneration of Bangor seafront; and a focus on bringing more visitors into the Mourne mountains and Ards Peninsula/Strangford Lough;
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Extension of Belfast's Rapid Transit System to take in outlying districts;
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Delivery of an extensive employability and skills programme, incorporating apprenticeship schemes, with a specific focus on digital skills;
Find Out More
Find out more about the Belfast Regional City Deal www.belfastcity.gov.uk/belfastregioncitydeal or follow #BRcitydeal on Twitter.
