Belfast Region City Deal: Joint Council Forum

The Chancellor included a City Deal for Northern Ireland in his 2017 autumn statement, allowing the six Councils, led by Belfast City Council, to develop a City Deal proposition that has the potential to tap into around £1billion of investment.

The Belfast (Region) City Deal will see Newry, Mourne and Down District Council form part of a collaboration with Antrim and Newtownabbey Council, Ards & North Down Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to maximise benefit from this new initiative.

Plans to develop the City Deal were discussed at a meeting of the six councils at Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey. Speaking about the collaboration, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Chairman, Councillor Mark Murnin said, “We are pleased that our Council is part of the City Deal which will give us an opportunity to create inclusive economic growth that delivers more and better jobs. The scheme will also have a positive impact on the most deprived communities and provide a balanced spread of benefits across the region – growth that will deliver for everyone.”

City Deals give Councils the powers and freedoms to help the Region support economic growth, create jobs and invest in local projects. The Growth deal for Belfast advocates four key areas; creating a single mechanism for regeneration and place making powers to promote growth, focus on the skills and employability of local people, improving connectivity and public transport and modernisation of local infrastructure.