The highly ambitious Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD), signed in December 2021, represents a new way of working between central and local government and regional partners. It also secures a £1 billion bespoke package of investment from central government, BRCD partners and the private sector to support the delivery of our shared vision of: “Inclusive economic growth that delivers more and better jobs, a positive impact on the most deprived communities and a balanced spread of benefits across the region”.
It’s envisaged that this transformative programme of investment will generate up to 20,000 jobs as it is delivered over the next 10-15 years – an exciting, once in a generation opportunity to accelerate economic growth for the region in an inclusive and sustainable way.
This Deal will strengthen the region’s offer in growth sectors such as life and health sciences, the digital and creative industries, and advanced manufacturing. It will support next generation digital capabilities, boost tourism and support the regeneration of our region, underpinned by infrastructure developments and investment in skills to connect people to jobs and services. The Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) comprises the six councils of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, working in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University, Belfast Metropolitan College, Northern Regional College, South Eastern Regional College and Southern Regional College.
This short film outlines our plans for the Belfast City Region. A decade of opportunity starts now. #BRCityDeal
Thanks to the unprecedented collaboration between the six councils in the Belfast region, our local universities and Further Education Colleges, the NI Executive and UK Government and the private sector. The highly ambitious Belfast Region City Deal will see £1 billion of new co-investment to support our most rapidly
Growing sectors, generating up to 20,000 jobs and driving sustainable, inclusive growth for our young, ambitious region. We’re investing £350 million of UK Government funding in building our innovation and digital capabilities, creating an Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, AMEC, that delivers the industry focused R&D required by Northern Ireland’s advanced manufacturing sectors.
A global innovation institute GII with the cross-cutting expertise to apply digital technologies to real world challenges in the health, agrifood and financial services sectors. And an Institute for Research Excellence in Advanced Clinical Health Care. iReach providing unified capability for clinical trials to help deliver solutions to long-term health challenges.
A centre for Digital Health Care Technology CDHT will accelerate the development of innovative medical technology devices and diagnostics and the new Studio Ulster, created in conjunction with the Belfast Harbour Film Studio Complex, will drive collaboration and research, development and innovation and virtual production. We’ll create a Challenge Fund to stimulate innovation in health
And wellbeing, sustainability and resilience and artificial intelligence and data, and invest in enabling infrastructure such as advanced wireless connectivity to support the development of the Belfast Smart District and regional test-beds. Regional Innovation Hubs will support business clusters and innovation across the region, and the I4C Innovation Centre will be a skills focused
Innovation and clean technology centre for SMEs located in Ballymena. The NI Executive and council partners are investing more than £300 million in additional world class visitor attractions. And re-imagined sustainable town and city centres supporting sustainable year round tourism and driving economic recovery. We are delivering a major upgrade to the exhilarating Gobbins
Coastal and cliff path regenerating Newry city centre reconnecting the town and sea at Bangor Waterfront and realising the opportunity presented by Carrickfergus, one of Europe’s oldest castles and walled towns. Destination Royal Hillsborough, will create a world-class heritage village and the landmark Belfast Stories will create an authentic
Anchor visitor attraction celebrating the city’s people and places through a variety of media and immersive experiences. Meanwhile, the Mourne Mountain Gateway Project will give visitors the opportunity to connect with nature’s rugged beauty through a mountainside, gondola experience and visitor centre. £140 million will be invested
Into connecting our region, creating a relief road for Newry that provides an alternative strategic route for traffic that reduces pressure on Newry city centre, facilitates onward travel to Dublin and improves access to other regional gateways. Building a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Lagan to connect
South and east Belfast to the city centre and providing enabling investment to support phase two of the Glider service. Partners are also working with government departments and our businesses across the region to collaboratively deliver programmes that will prepare an appropriately skilled workforce so that local people
Can benefit from the employment opportunities that will emerge as a result of the transformative Belfast Region City Deal investments, delivering benefits across the region and supporting inclusion. Belfast Region City Deal A decade of opportunity starts now.