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Investment
Programme
2012-2015
Draft
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/investment
DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
Contents
1 Introduction 5
2 Our commitments 6
3 Context 8
4 Snapshot of Belfast 10
5 Supporting principles 12
6 Physical investment programme 15
7 Economy 25
8 People, communities and neighbourhoods 31
9 Value for money 35
10 Monitoring and review 36
11 Seeking your views 37
Appendices 38
3
There are more grounds for optimism here than in most other capital cities in the world today. Make sure you don’t forget that. Set yourself some stretch goals that really extend expectations about what you can achieve so that everyone reaches for those goals together.” Declan Kelly Former US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland
DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
1 - Introduction
1. Introduction
From the Chair of the Strategic and Policy Resources Committee and council party leaders
These are rapidly changing times. The economic confidence and optimism which previously provided
the backdrop for economic growth in Belfast has changed and there is continued uncertainty over the
economy. However our city has many strengths and opportunities. We need to capitalise on our growing
reputation as a top cultural and tourism destination, a leading venue for world-class events, a location of
choice for foreign direct investment and creative industries, continued political stability, a young population
and a skilled workforce.
These opportunities mean that now is the time to
continue to invest in our city. This Investment
Programme for Belfast sets out our commitment to deliver
for the city over the rest of this council term (2012-15) and Councillor Deirdre Hargey
beyond. However it is also a prospectus for partnership - a Chair, Strategic Policy and Resources Committee
call for joint working across all sectors, organisations and
communities to bring together the resources needed to
help our citizens realise their potential and make Belfast a
competitive, inclusive and successful city.
Councillor Jim McVeigh
As a new council we have worked to manage budgets and Party Leader, Sinn Féin (SF)
generate efficiencies to free up money to pay for additional
investment across the city so that we can deliver this
Investment Programme whilst committing to you that the
district rate will not increase beyond inflation for the next
three years. This will allow us to deliver significant additional Alderman Robin Newton
investment, balanced across the city including: Party Leader, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
• Capital investment - £75 million over the next three
years to help build city and community assets and support
employment in construction and other sectors, as part of
an overall £150 million physical investment programme; Councillor Tim Attwood
• Employment and skills development - provide 600 Party Leader, Social, Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)
council employment, work placement, internship and
apprenticeship opportunities and introduce social and
community benefit clauses to contracts to provide
employment opportunities for local people;
Councillor Máire Hendron
• Bursary scheme - £300,000 to implement a bursary Party Leader, Alliance Party (ALL)
scheme to support 16-24 year-olds to move into further
education, training and employment;
• Business support - a range of schemes including
increasing the amount of council procurement sourced
locally by 10% to a total of 60% by 2015. Alderman David Browne
Party Leader, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
We will work with partners to market Belfast proactively
on the international stage to attract inward investment,
increase tourism and build the networks necessary to
support growth.
Alderman Hugh Smyth
We jointly commit, across all parties, to working with our Party Leader, Progressive Unionist Party (PUP)
2,500 employees, our citizens and our partners to deliver
on this Investment Programme and contribute to the
growth and revitalisation of our city.
5
DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
2 - Our commitments
2. Our commitments
Physical investment programme
Investing £150 million in capital projects
We will invest:
• £75 million in council facilities for local communities - including new pitches, playgrounds and the
refurbishment and regeneration of local facilities and community assets;
• £20 million in partnership projects which will contribute to city regeneration;
• £50 million levered from Europe and other sources to provide key economic infrastructure projects to
support the development of key sectors; and
• £5 million in smaller local regeneration projects.
Economy
Investing £34 million in local economic growth, delivering
600 job and work placement and internship opportunities
and increasing local procurement to 60%
We will:
• further developing economic infrastructure to promote growth and inward investment;
• supporting employability and skills development including:
- a £300,000 bursary fund to help 16-24 year-olds move into further education, training and employment,
- over 400 work placement, internship and apprenticeship opportunities within Belfast City Council with a
focus on graduates and young long-term unemployed and disabled people, and
- 200 employment opportunities at no additional cost to the ratepayer;
• investing over £34 million in local economic growth to:
- grow tourism and host major events,
- support and promote arts and culture,
- encourage business growth and competitiveness in key sectors, including retail, creative industries,
financial and business services and connected health,
- market Belfast internationally; and
• increasing the amount of council spend with local suppliers by 10% to 60% by 2015.
6
DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
2 - Our commitments
People, communities and neighbourhoods
Investing £29 million
We will:
• implement a £10 million grant aid programme to support local communities including spending £2.4 million
on providing advice and support services;
• use our £5 million Local Investment Fund to attract and complement other funding for regeneration, such
as OFMDFM’s Social Investment Fund; DSD’s Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Sports NI’s Community
Capital programme;
• roll out the additional £4 million EU PEACE III funding that we have secured to continue to build a peaceful
and inclusive city;
• invest £1.5 million in delivering our Renewing the Routes programme;
• invest £2 million in playgrounds and community gardens;
• lever in an additional £3 million to support our actions on community safety, including delivering a further
£700,000 in Phase III of our alleygating programme;
• implement the actions under our Poverty and Social Inequalities Framework and the Belfast Strategic
Partnership’s Framework for Action on Addressing Life Inequalities;
• deliver £3.5 million of health and well-being programmes to tackle health inequalities through the Active
Belfast Partnership; and
• deal with dilapidated and derelict buildings to support neighbourhood regeneration.
Value for money
Keeping rates below inflation and delivering £20 million in savings
We will:
• keep any required rate increase to the level of inflation or below;
• continue to deliver our efficiency programme, reaching £20 million in savings by 2015;
• pay 90% of our creditors within 28 days to help improve business cash flow;
• introduce the use of social and community benefit clauses in our contracts; and
• sustain and enhance the value of the city’s rate base to ensure future investment.
7
DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
3 - Context
3. Context
Belfast is increasingly recognised as a successful, This Investment Programme is a response to the changes
peaceful and dynamic city and it enjoyed over a that the downturn has created and an attempt to build on
decade of sustained investment and economic what has been achieved over the past decades. Therefore,
growth before the recent global economic downturn. before deciding on our commitments, we analysed the
challenges and opportunities facing the city in order to
establish where action needed to be taken, the potential
resources we need to deliver and the partnerships and
relationships we need to realise the city’s full potential.
The economic challenge
We can see the impact that the economic downturn
is having on local people, communities and
businesses. Employment levels in the region have
fallen and there has been a rise in unemployment,
with young people and graduates being hit
particularly hard. The downturn has affected many
sectors, including construction, retail and business
services. There are increasing numbers of vacant
properties, incomes are falling for many and welfare
reform will increase the pressure on the poorest in
the city.
The challenge is considerable but the next few
years will witness a number of important milestones
for Belfast. A number of key visitor attractions
and cultural venues including Titanic Belfast
and The MAC will open, making Belfast, which
currently attracts eight million visitors a year even
more appealing. Belfast has a vibrant artistic and
cultural life and key growth sectors such as the
creative industries sector have the potential to add
significant value.
Major international events, such as the Tall Ships in
2009 and the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2011,
have helped to boost our economy and enhance
Belfast’s international reputation. We are committed
to building on this to further raise the city’s profile at
a global level.
8
DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
3 - Context
Council resources
Belfast City Council employs over 2,500 people and spends £170 million, much of it locally, each year.
We have therefore looked at how we can maximise the use of all our resources to help stimulate the local
economy and at the same time minimise the cost to the ratepayer.
We will finance our commitments through:
• cash savings from our efficiency programme and reducing running costs,
• a 2.6% district rate increase in 2012-13 which will be dedicated to supporting capital investment,
• prudential borrowing, and
• levering money from Europe and other sources.
Partnership
We recognise that we cannot realise the objectives in this Investment Programme on our own and therefore
one of our underlying principles is the need to work in partnership. It is crucial that we continue to develop
productive relationships with the Northern Ireland Executive and other key partners from the public, private
and voluntary and community sectors to deliver the objectives under this Programme.
We have looked closely at the plans of other bodies including the draft Programme for Government
2011-2015, the Economic Strategy and the draft Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland and their
objectives, to ensure that the projects and programmes outlined in this document align closely with the
objectives of central government. We believe that government plans must reflect the fact, recognised
across the world, that regional economic growth is driven by competitive, economically successful and
inclusive cities. We welcome the Executive’s reference to the importance of Belfast to regional prosperity.
Reform and delivery
A key feature of the draft Programme for Government is the reform of local government in Northern Ireland
which will mean that planning and regeneration powers will return to councils, as well as a community
planning duty. This programme is therefore underpinned by a commitment to work closely with government
departments to ensure as much integration as possible happens before any formal transfer. No time should
be lost in building an effective delivery plan for Belfast, to ensure that capacity exists across all agencies and
disciplines to make key projects happen for the benefit of the city and its citizens.
9
DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
4 - Snapshot of Belfast
4. Snapshot of Belfast
People
• 268,000 people live in the city
while over 645,536 live in the wider
metropolitan area.
• 20% of the population is under 16
and 30% is over the age of 50. Employment
• 63.1% of Belfast’s total population is • The number of jobs in Belfast is 196,931.
of working age.
• Belfast is home to two-thirds of Northern
Ireland’s largest 50 companies and half of
its foreign-owned businesses.
• Belfast has half of Northern Ireland’s
hi-tech manufacturing jobs, 3 in 5 computer
and related service jobs and two-thirds of
creative media and arts jobs.
• Northern Ireland is Europe’s leading location
for financial services software development,
attracting more than a third of total projects
in the last five years. The majority of these
companies are based in Belfast.
• The total number of people claiming
unemployment related benefits in Belfast is
11,544 - 6.6% of those eligible to work.
• The construction industry across Northern
Ireland has been hit particularly hard by the
economic downturn with the total volume of
overall construction output in Quarter 3 2011
being 37.5% lower than the peak in Quarter 1
2007.
Tourism
and Events • 5.4% of 16-59 year olds receive
incapacity benefit.
• Belfast has established itself as a leading
short-break destination. Recently, National • 12.9% of population aged 16-59 receive
Geographic Traveller magazine named it as income support.
one of the world’s top destinations for 2012.
• In 2010 eight million visitors, including
1.38 million out-of-state overnight visitors,
came to Belfast injecting £398 million into
the local economy and helping to support Sources used include:
over 8,000 full-time jobs. Northern Ireland Statistical Research Agency (NISRA),
the Noble Multiple Deprivation Measures, the Department of Enterprise,
• The Financial Times has listed Belfast as Trade and Industry (DETI), the Department of Education (DE),
one of the ‘Top 10 places in the world’ to the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL),
hold a conference or major event. the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
(DHSS&PS), the Department for Regional Development (DRD),
Belfast Tourism Monitor and 2001 Census information.
10DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
4 - Snapshot of Belfast
Education
• There are 161 schools in Belfast (32 nursery, 84 primary, 19
secondary, 16 grammar, 10 special).
• In 2009-10 there were 3,128 school leavers in Belfast.
- 36% went on to further education,
- 11% went straight into employment, and
- 3.8% left school with no GCSEs.
• There are 55,650 undergraduate students and 11,785
postgraduate students in Belfast at Queen’s University and
the University of Ulster.
• Belfast Metropolitan College is the largest further and
higher education college in Northern Ireland with over
40,000 students.
Connectivity
• There are two
modern airports
within 20 minutes of
the city centre with
regular flights to
Health and deprivation national, European and
international destinations.
• 9 out of the 10 most deprived wards in
Northern Ireland, in terms of multiple • The Port of Belfast handles
deprivation, are in Belfast. 60% of Northern Ireland’s
seaborne trade.
• 7 out of the 10 most deprived wards
in Northern Ireland, in terms of health • Over 40% of households
deprivation, are in Belfast. in Belfast do not have
access to a private car and
• There are pockets of health inequalities
therefore rely on public
across the city and the gap in life
transport.
expectancy is not reducing between the
most affluent areas and the most deprived. • There are plans for a
£100 million rapid transit
• The average life expectancy in Belfast is
infrastructure in the city.
lower than the Northern Ireland average:
- Males: 74.4 years, compared to NI • There has been major
average of 76.4 years. upgrades over the past
decade in the road network
- Females: 80.1 years, compared to the including the £100 million
NI average of 81.3 years. Westlink upgrade.
11DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
5 - Supporting principles
5. Supporting principles
The following principles underpin everything that our councillors and employees will do
in the delivery of the objectives in this Investment Programme.
1 Good relations and equality
We are committed to promoting equality and good
relations and believe these are key to improving the
quality of life for everyone. Fairness and respect are
central to this programme and underpin all of our
activities. A peaceful and inclusive society is vital to
economic regeneration, attracting talent, sustaining
inward investment, generating tourism and tackling
poverty. We want to shape Belfast so that its spaces
and services meet the ambitions of all residents.
3
Partnership
and integration
We believe in strong, shared,
collaborative leadership and
are committed to bringing
together partners from all sectors
and communities to develop
innovative solutions to Belfast’s
challenges and to take advantage
of all opportunities.
We believe organisations should
work together to deliver the
most accessible and convenient
services and facilities wherever
possible.
We will engage with local
2 Balanced investment communities in delivering this
programme and will advocate
We believe all parts of Belfast should benefit from investment and growth with government and the private
and we will work to transform and connect all areas in the context of sector for more investment in
their individual challenges and strengths. We will work with partners to Belfast.
connect all areas to new city developments.
12DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
5 - Supporting principles
4 Value for money
We will test all our services,
plans and projects to ensure that
they provide value for money for
ratepayers. We will provide efficient
and effective services, making
the most of scarce resources and
pursuing all sources of funding
for investment in Belfast. We will
maximise our spend to benefit the
local economy and communities.
5
Sustainability
We will work to improve
quality of life, now and for
future generations, creating a
sustainable, clean and healthy
...we will seek to rebuild
living space for all.
and rebalance our
economy, and we will
seek to address the
legacy of division that
lingers from the past.”
Statement of the First Minister and Deputy First
Minister on the Programme for Government and
Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland.
November 2011
13DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
6 - Physical investment programme
6. Physical investment programme
Our commitments
£150 million investment in capital projects including:
• £75 million in council facilities for local communities - including new pitches, playgrounds and the refurbishment
and regeneration of local facilities and community assets;
• £20 million in partnership projects which will contribute to city regeneration;
• £50 million levered from Europe and other sources to provide key economic infrastructure projects to support
development of key sectors; and
• £5 million in smaller local regeneration projects.
Our physical investment programme will help to build community and city assets and support construction.
This will impact on the wider economy, creating demand and opportunities at a time when they are
needed most. In line with the principles underpinning this Programme we are committed to balanced
investment across the city.
We recognise that modern infrastructure is critical to Ways in which our physical investment programme will
the future success of Belfast and will underpin the be financed include:
revitalisation of our local economy. The assets we create
will help communities and the city as a whole prosper, • cash savings from our efficiency programme and
compete and create further opportunities now and for reducing running costs;
future generations. • a 2.6% district rate increase in 2012-13 which will be
dedicated to supporting capital investment;
Key funding streams for the delivery of this
• prudential borrowing; and
programme are:
• levering money from Europe and other sources.
• City Investment Fund - this fund supports key
partnership projects to regenerate Belfast and helps to Reform of local government within Northern Ireland will
lever substantial funds from other sources. It has already include the transfer of new place shaping functions such
helped fund Titanic Belfast, Connswater Community as planning and regeneration to councils by 2015. We
Greenway, the Lyric and The MAC. are getting ready to take full advantage of this opportunity
and to ensure that the capacity exists across all agencies
• Capital programme - this rolling programme of
to make regeneration happen.
investment is for building and improving council-owned
facilities in local communities.
• Local Investment Fund - this new fund will be used
to support the delivery of key regenerative projects in
neighbourhoods. It will complement other private and
public sector funding streams including OFMDFM’s £80
million Social Investment Fund, DSD’s Neighbourhood
Renewal Fund and Sports NI’s Community Capital
programme for sports facilities.
15DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
6 - Physical investment programme
Council-led projects
Our capital programme is a rolling plan of investment which either improves existing council facilities or
provides new facilities.
Over the period of our last corporate plan, we invested £52 million and levered an additional £16 million external
funding to deliver key capital investment schemes including:
• the Grove Wellbeing Centre, • pitch replacements,
• the Falls Leisure Centre, • playground provision, and
• the provision of improved waste and • the refurbishments of civic buildings including Belfast
recycling facilities, City Hall and Ulster Hall.
Over the next three years, we will invest a further £75 million in providing new facilities and enhancing existing
ones. This investment includes:
Mary Peters Track
We are investing £3 million
to upgrade the Mary Peters
Track to provide a new eight
lane International Association
of Athletics Federations
New pitch provision specification track with a spectator stand. This
We have committed £10 million towards: will be ready for the 2013 World Fire and Police
• new playing pitches at Cherryvale, Woodlands, Games which over 10,000 competitors and 40,000
Cliftonville playing fields, Falls Park and Ormeau spectators from across the world will attend.
Park. This investment will see the provision of new
3G hybrid pitches along with associated works
including lighting, fencing and state-of-the art Dunville and Woodvale parks
changing facilities, A £4 million investment in two of our city parks to
• new changing facilities at Ballysillan, Waterworks, refurbish and regenerate these and make them key
Musgrave and upgrades to existing facilities at community assets. These upgrades will see new
Dixon and Victoria parks. play areas, new pitches and space for community
events. We have been working closely with the local
communities in the areas to make sure they benefit
Cemetery and crematorium from these investments. DSD has approved matched
There will be ongoing investment of over £600,000 funding for these schemes.
in site development and extensions at Roselawn
Cemetery. We are also considering options for a new
crematorium and suitable sites for a new cemetery. We
will invest £1.8 million in new cremators and mercury
abatement at the crematorium.
Playgrounds and community gardens Alleygating
We manage more than 70 children’s playgrounds and are committed to making We will invest a further
these accessible and inclusive to children of various abilities. Over the next three £700,000 in Phase III of our
years we will invest £2 million in refurbishing and maintaining these facilities and alleygating programme.
increasing the number of community gardens across the city.
Facility maintenance and upgrade
Over the next three years we will spend £18 million to maintain and enhance
vital community facilities and assets, including parks and multi-use game areas.
16DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
6 - Physical investment programme
Investing in the city’s economic infrastructure
We are pursuing European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and other funding for a number of key
projects which will help deliver this, aiming to lever investment of nearly £40 million into Belfast for a
council investment of £13 million. We have made bids for the following projects:
• Convention Centre and Exhibition Centre
A £20 million proposal to extend Belfast Waterfront to provide dedicated conference and exhibition facilities.
This will help strengthen Belfast’s offer to this market.
• Green Economy Business Park
An £8 million bid for the development of a green business park on the North Foreshore.
• Innovation Centre
An £8 million proposal for the provision of an Innovation Centre at Springvale.
• Digital Hub
We are working with Invest NI to develop a £4 million Digital Hub to promote digital technology based
enterprises in the city.
• Super-connected broadband
The Chancellor recently announced that Belfast would be one of ten cities to share £100 million to become
super-connected with 80-100 MB broadband access - vital to economic competitiveness. We will work
with government to ensure that this funding is used to drive growth with a particular focus on small and
medium-sized enterprises.
Emerging council-led investment projects
Through the use of our assets and resources we play a key role in shaping the face of Belfast and
contributing to the overall development of the city. Some of the capital projects that we will pursue
over the course of this Investment Programme include:
• Development of the North Foreshore - the city’s largest development site. We have issued a development
brief and are actively seeking cultural and leisure uses and the development of a green business park.
• Loughside - enhancing the recreation and community facilities in the Loughside Park area to complement a
£30 million private sector led retail development.
• Girdwood Community Hub - a £9 million EU Peace III funding proposal to create a new Community
Hub facility.
• Relocation of the Belfast Welcome Centre to provide better, more accessible services and facilities for
visitors to Belfast.
• Leisure provision review - we operate 10 leisure centres across the city however these assets are aging and
by 2015 we will have created proposals for the redevelopment of the leisure estate.
• Redevelopment of the Tropical Ravine at Botanic Gardens - a Heritage Lottery Fund application to
redevelop this key tourist destination.
• Council accommodation - future accommodation solutions will be developed as part of our
efficiency programme.
• Floral Hall at Belfast Zoo - potential refurbishment of this historic building.
• Gasworks Business Park - options for the development of the Northern Fringe of the Gasworks are being
explored to further enhance this significant economic asset.
• Springfield Recycling Centre - a new community recycling facility to help meet EU waste targets.
17DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
6 - Physical investment programme
Partnership projects - in progress
We have established a City Investment Fund which demonstrates our commitment to improving the
vibrancy, prosperity, competitiveness and sustainability of the city. This seeks to support key partnership
projects which will contribute to regeneration.
Through our City Investment Fund, we have already invested £16 million in a number of landmark projects which
have helped lever in more than £160 million additional private and public sector investment. These projects will
help play a central role in establishing Belfast and the wider region as a world class tourist, cultural and business
destination as well as providing important legacy assets to the city and helping to add value to the city’s rates base.
Examples of the projects we are investing in include:
Cultural facilities at the Lyric
and The MAC
The city’s arts and cultural offering has been transformed with the
opening of the new £18 million Lyric Theatre and the £18 million
MAC. We contributed £1.8 million towards these projects alongside
the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, the Arts Council, the
Department for Social Development and private investors.
Titanic Belfast
In partnership with the
Department of Enterprise, Trade
and Investment (DETI), Titanic
Quarter Ltd and the Belfast
Harbour Commissioners, we have
committed £10 million towards
the spectacular new £97 million
Titanic Belfast project. Opening
in April 2012, the world’s largest
Titanic visitor experience will offer
a state-of-the-art world class
visitor and educational facility
and is expected to attract over
400,000 visitors a year.
Connswater Community
Greenway
This innovative and exciting project will reconnect the
communities of East Belfast and restore the rivers as
community assets. It will create a vibrant, attractive,
safe and accessible park for leisure, recreation and
community events and activities. We contributed
£4 million to this £32 million project which is also
being funded through the Big Lottery Fund and
the Department for Social Development.
Opposite: Titanic Belfast
18A capital city of Titanic ambition” National Geographic describing Belfast as one of the world’s top destinations for 2012
DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
6 - Physical investment programme
Emerging partnership projects
We will tap into the energy and commitment of Belfast’s people. Partners
and communities are generating ideas and projects with the potential to
transform all areas of the city. Over the next three years we will continue to
work with partners to prioritise and invest in those projects which will deliver
the best benefits for the city and its neighbourhoods.
Some examples of potential partnership projects are detailed below. The
list is not exhaustive and will be subject to continual review and prioritisation
over the investment period as funding and delivery opportunities
present themselves. The projects listed below are at different stages of
development, with some being initial concept ideas and others more fully
worked up with economic appraisals to support them. We will continue
to work with partners to further analyse and support projects which
demonstrate feasibility and the ability to contribute to the city’s economic Gaeltacht Quarter
social and environmental well-being.
We therefore commit ourselves over the course of this programme to work
with communities and partners to define and refine project proposals,
explore potential funding streams and help build capacity to support delivery.
• Gaeltacht Quarter
Proposals to regenerate one of the city’s Irish language, tourism and
cultural quarters.
• North Belfast Cultural Corridor and St Kevin’s Hall
Proposal for a cultural corridor linking the city centre to north Belfast and
an adjacent project to regenerate St Kevin’s Hall.
• Public bike hire
Working with DRD to explore the potential to introduce a public bike
hire scheme in Belfast.
• Titanic Quarter
Further regeneration of the Titanic Quarter over the next 20 years led
by Titanic Quarter Limited.
• Markets Tunnels at Lanyon North Belfast Cultural Corridor
A proposal to reopen the eight tunnels of the East Bridge Street viaduct
for community and social economy businesses use and as an access
point from the Markets community to the city centre.
• Lagan Canal
Plans to restore and revitalise the Lagan Canal corridor.
• Crumlin Road Gaol
Redevelopment and reopening of the former Crumlin Road Gaol as a
tourism and business centre being led by OFMDFM and DSD.
• York Street Interchange
A planned investment led by DRD to upgrade the city’s road network.
• St Comgall’s
Proposed peace and reconciliation and conference centre which is
being led by Falls Community Council.
• Black Mountain
Proposed development of a shared space activity centre.
Public bike hire
20DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
6 - Physical investment programme
• Integrated transport hub
Proposal to develop an integrated transport hub at Grosvenor Road
which is being led by Translink and DRD.
• Six Links
A concept proposal for north Belfast developed by FAB to reconnect
north Belfast with the Titanic Quarter.
• Andersonstown Gateway
A masterplan for the Andersonstown area which is being completed by
DSD.
• Arygle Business Park
Provision of additional enterprise units in Shankill area.
• Girdwood Park
Potential redevelopment of a 17 acre brownfield site in north Belfast
which is owned by the DSD.
• Crumlin Road Court House
Black Mountain
A listed building on the Crumlin Road. The building is currently in private
ownership and is in a poor condition.
• Changing Places
Provision of disabled toilet facilities.
• Shaftsbury Square
DSD led masterplan for the regeneration of this key
city gateway.
• Vocational College
Provision of new educational facility in east Belfast.
• Glen 10
Housing lead development.
• Glen Colin
Development of a community facility.
• An Droichead
A new community and social enterprise hub.
• Springfield Dam
Development of a potential tourism destination.
Girdwood Community Hub (artist’s impression) • Falls Women’s Centre
Proposals to expand the current facility.
• Shankill Piazza
Creation of a vibrant open space and public realm.
Support for communities in partnership with the Sports NI
Community Capital programme:
• Hammer
Improving council facilities including pitch upgrade and new building for
boxing club.
• Marrowbone
Provision of a 3G pitch in partnership with the Ardoyne Youth
Providers Forum.
• Barnett Demesne
Provision of a mountain bike track in partnership with Countryside
Access and Activities Network (CAAN).
Lagan Canal
21DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
6 - Physical investment programme
Masterplan - advocacy projects
Belfast benefited substantially from considerable
private and public investment over the past decade.
We need strong city leadership and partnership
Belfast Masterplan
to ensure continued investment and to secure Review 2012
the necessary resources to make projects such
as improved transport, learning and technological
infrastructure happen.
Continued investment in the city’s economic and
physical infrastructure is also vital to growing the
rate base. This provides nearly 75% of our income,
allowing continued investment and vital service
provision. Over the next three years, we will continue
to work closely with our public and private sector
partners to identify and progress those key city
infrastructure projects which will provide a platform
for competitiveness and regeneration.
Our Masterplan for the city sets out our high level vision for the next ten years and highlights what we
need to focus on in terms of city infrastructure and relationships to create a competitive, connected,
inclusive Belfast. The key objectives under our Masterplan are:
Spatial objectives
• The Belfast city region
Supporting the potential for Belfast to drive
economic growth in the region.
• The centre city
A vibrant and dynamic centre city and
regional economy.
• The neighbourhood city
Neighbourhoods which provide the focus for
community, social and environmental sustainability.
Strategic objectives
• The accessible and connected city
Enhancing accessibility and connectivity
internationally, regionally and locally.
• The learning city
Harnessing the power of cutting edge research and
development and third level education.
• The eco city
Clean technology, renewable energy and efficiency
will drive growth in the economy and reduce costs
for businesses and households.
22DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
6 - Physical investment programme
We have identified five priority projects aligned to each of these
objectives. These projects will all be iconic and transformational
and their beneficial effects will be felt at a city wide and regional
level. We are advocating and working closely with key partners
to secure the resources needed to deliver the projects linked to
these platforms including:
The centre city
Royal The eco city
Exchange
A £400 million proposed North Foreshore
investment in the Royal The council owned North Foreshore
The neighbourhood city Exchange retail-led site in the north of the city is the
scheme in the north largest development site in Belfast
Casement and east of the city. We will compromising over 340 acres. We
Windsor Park work with DSD to realise are committed to delivering this
the benefits of this
stadia upgrades development.
site for the benefit of everyone in
Belfast.
The NI Executive has committed over
£130 million to local sports facilities
including £25.2 million which will
go towards the redevelopment of The accessible and
connected city
Windsor Park and £61.4 million for the
redevelopment of Casement Park. We
will work with government, sporting Rapid Transit
bodies and local communities to
maximise the benefit of this investment. A £100 million investment in a
Belfast Rapid Transit system led
by the DRD. This system will play
a key role in linking communities in
the east and west of the city and
will help regenerate deprived areas
by providing quick and efficient
access to jobs, education, health
and leisure.
The learning city
University of Ulster, new Belfast campus
£250 million investment by the University of Ulster in a new campus
in Belfast at York Street. We are committed to working with the
University and other statutory agencies to maximise the wider
regeneration and community benefits of this significant investment.
23DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
7 - Economy
7. Economy
Our commitments
We will support the local economy by:
• further developing economic infrastructure to promote growth and inward investment;
• supporting employability and skills development including:
- a £300,000 bursary fund to help 16-24 year-olds move into further education, training and employment,
- over 400 work placement, internship and apprenticeship opportunities within Belfast City Council with a
focus on graduates and young long-term unemployed and disabled people, and
- 200 employment opportunities at no additional cost to the ratepayer;
• investing over £34 million in local economic growth to:
- grow tourism and host major events,
- support and promote arts and culture,
- encourage business growth and competitiveness in key sectors, including retail, creative industries,
financial and business services and connected health,
- market Belfast internationally; and
• increasing the amount of council spend with local suppliers by 10% to 60% by 2015.
The challenges facing the Northern Ireland economy
are significant.
The draft Programme for Government makes clear that
the potential for recovery and growth will depend upon
effective partnership working between the public sector
and the private, community and voluntary sectors.
The draft Economic Strategy identifies Belfast as the key
driver for economic growth in the region. We will work
with government departments, agencies and the private
sector to contribute towards the targets set out in these
key regional strategies.
25DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
7 - Economy
Economic infrastructure
We will work with partners to further develop
the city’s infrastructure to promote growth and
inward investment. As outlined in our physical
investment programme this will include
support for tourism, the creative industries,
green technology and renewables through
developments such as:
• an integrated convention and exhibition centre at
Belfast Waterfront;
• a Green Economy Business Park at the
North Foreshore;
• an Innovation Centre at Springvale;
• a Digital Hub for Belfast; and
• super-connected broadband status for the city. Illustrative design concept of proposed Convention
and Exhibition Centre at Belfast Waterfront.
Support employability and skills development
There is need for specific, targeted interventions to ensure that
people in all parts of Belfast have the opportunity to develop
the skills necessary to apply for and secure jobs particularly
our young people (16-24) who have been badly impacted by the
economic downturn. In addition the council is committed to
looking at how we, as a large employer in the city, can provide
job opportunities and extend employment opportunities by
supporting those who are unemployed or disadvantaged in the
labour market to tackle the barriers to work that they face.
Over the next three years we will:
• contribute £300,000 towards bursaries to help those aged 16-24 into further education, training and employment;
• work with local partners to deliver targeted employability initiatives across the city, providing pre-employment
support for 1200 people and helping around 400 into employment;
• work with partners on the Belfast Social Clause Delivery Forum, ensuring that government contracts contain
appropriate social clauses to support employment and apprenticeship opportunities that can be easily
managed and monitored;
• work with DEL and Belfast Metropolitan College to deliver on the targets set out in their successive
employment and skills strategies and set up a city-wide Employability and Skills Steering Group to maximise
the significant resources available across government and other agencies;
• provide over 400 work placement, apprenticeship and internship opportunities within Belfast City Council with
a focus on graduates and young long-term unemployed and disabled people,
• deliver 200 employment opportunities at no additional cost to the ratepayer; and
• look at how we can provide further volunteering opportunities within the council to help people to develop
their skills.
26DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
7 - Economy
Tourism development and promotion
Recognising the importance of the tourism sector we have developed an Integrated Strategic
Framework for Belfast Tourism which we will deliver over the next three years. We will ensure that all
parts of the city benefit from the potential growth in tourism over the coming years. This strategy aims
to increase the number of overnight visitors by 40% to 2.38 million and to increase overnight visitor
spend by 20% to £294 million by 2015. To help achieve this, over the next three years we will:
Market Belfast
Spend over £7 million to support the
marketing and visitor servicing activities of
the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau
(BCVB). We will also lever in an additional
£8 million investment which will benefit
over 500 local tourism, hospitality and
service businesses.
Develop Belfast’s tourism product
Invest £1.5 million in developing new products for tourists to
enjoy such as the Belfast Music Tour and the Great Belfast
Food initiative. We will also continue to invest in tourism
signage and will work to promote customer excellence
standards within our local hospitality sector.
Invest in a
‘City of Festivals’
Support 25 festivals and the
Develop culture and arts animation of 12 city spaces. We
Invest over £4.5 million in enhancing have secured £300,000 of EU
cultural and arts sectors Peace III funding which will used
to create a dynamic to support the development and
and vibrant city. Belfast use of shared cultural space. An
now has over 70 estimated 200,000 people will
festival organisations attend these events.
and a wide range of
cultural venues and
organisations. We will
utilise culture and art
to tell the Belfast story If you can’t have a good time in Belfast,
and stimulate visitor
and citizen interest in
you can’t have a good time...”
local areas. Jools Holland
27DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
7 - Economy
City events
In the past few years Belfast has held a number of game changing events which have helped
transform people’s view of the city and demonstrated it as a place which can hold its own on the
world stage. Over the next three years we will invest £7.8 million and hold more international events
which will continue to place Belfast on the world stage. These events will further enhance the city’s
reputation and cement it as a top tourism and cultural destination. We will also continue to try to
secure further world-class events which will help boost the city’s economy.
‘Our Time, Our Place’ World Irish Dancing Championships 2012
Titanic Belfast Festival 2012
Belfast will host the
Along with our World Irish Dancing
partners at NITB and Championships again in
Titanic Belfast, we are April 2012. Over 4,500
hosting international competitors will take
scale events to part in this event and it
mark the centenary is estimated that it will
of Titanic’s fateful generate £8 million into
maiden voyage. The the local economy.
100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking will position
Belfast as the ‘home’ of the Titanic. Events will
include a return of MTV for a concert on the Titanic
Slipways, a spectacular light show, a series of
commemorative events and a newly commissioned
drama which will be performed at the new MAC.
World Police and Fire Games 2013
Belfast is playing
host to the
World Police
and Fire Games
in August 2013.
This spectacular
sporting event
is expected
to attract over
10,000 police
officers, fire
fighters, customs
and prison officers
from around
the world who
will take part in Tall Ships 2015
over 65 sporting
events. The event We have secured the return of the prestigious Tall
will also attract Ships event to the city in 2015. In 2009, this was
over 40,000 one of the most successful and high profile events
spectators. attracting in excess of 800,000 spectators.
28DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
7 - Economy
Encourage business growth and competitiveness in key sectors
Belfast is home to around 11,000 businesses. The draft Economic Strategy
identifies the importance of securing additional foreign direct investment and
export-led growth as a way of rebalancing the local economy. We will work with
our partners in Invest NI to maximise inward investment. We will also work with
our enterprise partners to encourage new businesses to start up and to help
small companies grow.
To support local businesses over the next three years we will invest £4.8 million to:
• help 400 local companies to explore export opportunities for the first time or grow
into new markets;
• help 60 community based organisations to explore the potential of becoming social
economy enterprises;
• support the independent retail sector to build their customer base and further
develop niche retail opportunities;
• work with Invest NI and the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
to access the opportunities in the connected health sector. We will support local
technology companies to exploit these opportunities;
• progress the development of a renewable sector zone in the north of the city and advocate for associated
enterprise incentives;
• develop targeted business start initiatives for key groups. Our Belfast Enterprise Academy and our enterprise
competitions will introduce 150 undergraduate students to the practicalities of managing a business, with a
view to creating at least 80 new business start-ups;
• stage investment conferences to promote Belfast to international investors; and
• develop an International Relations Strategy to support attracting tourism, foreign direct investment, commercial
investment, European funding and talent.
Support local procurement and maximise the potential
of our procurement spend
In 2011-12 we spent £55 million on procuring goods and services. Local businesses will play a crucial
role in helping us to deliver this Investment Programme. We recognise the wider economic and
community benefits that procurement spend can bring to our city, helping to support and protect jobs
throughout the supply chain.
Over the next three years we will, working within our legal responsibilities, seek to increase the amount the
council procures locally by 10% to a total of 60% by 2015. We will do this through:
• ‘Smarter Procurement Programme’ - supporting 20-25 local businesses or social enterprises to take
advantage of emerging procurement opportunities in the public and private sector.
• ‘Construction Sales Growth Programme’ - supporting 50 local sub-contractors to identify and exploit potential
supply chain opportunities with a target of generating £1 million of new business for participating companies.
• Procurement fairs and road shows - develop and deliver a structured programme of procurement fairs and
road shows annually to develop awareness and build capacity among local suppliers.
• Procurement guides and assistance - prepare a ‘How to do business with the council’ guide and a guide
for businesses who are considering developing a consortia bid for a large procurement contract.
• Better communication and engagement - reviewing and updating our suppliers database and updating the
procurement section on our website.
29DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
8 - People, communities and neighbourhoods
8. People, communities and
neighbourhoods
Our commitments
We will:
• implement a £10 million grant aid programme to support local communities including spending £2.4 million
on providing advice and support services;
• use our £5 million Local Investment Fund to attract and complement other funding for regeneration, such
as OFMDFM’s Social Investment Fund; DSD’s Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Sports NI’s Community
Capital programme;
• roll out the additional £4 million EU PEACE III funding that we have secured to continue to build a peaceful
and inclusive city;
• invest £1.5 million in delivering our Renewing the Routes programme;
• invest £2 million in playgrounds and community gardens;
• lever in an additional £3 million to support our actions on community safety, including delivering a further
£700,000 in Phase III of our alleygating programme;
• implement the actions under our Poverty and Social Inequalities Framework and the Belfast Strategic
Partnership’s Framework for Action on Addressing Life Inequalities;
• deliver £3.5 million of health and well-being programmes to tackle health inequalities through the Active
Belfast Partnership; and
• deal with dilapidated and derelict buildings to support neighbourhood regeneration.
Quality of life in Belfast is vital to the well-being
of citizens and attracting visitors, investors and
students and is the bedrock of economic growth.
Central to this is feeling safe, being healthy and
having access to high quality green space, good
leisure and cultural opportunities and being able to
travel easily to access employment.
In Belfast this also means reducing segregation
and promoting inclusion and integration of different
communities. Many of our citizens continue to live
parallel lives, with some communities still separated by
physical barriers. It is no coincidence that the poorest
neighbourhoods in Belfast continue to be those located in
and around interfaces and flashpoint areas. Therefore this
programme also focuses on addressing the diseconomies
of segregation.
We have a unique history of pioneering voluntary and
community action. We will continue to invest in supporting
the community and voluntary sector and local groups and
organisations, which play a vital role in supporting our
local communities and improving quality of life.
31DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
8 - People, communities and neighbourhoods
Neighbourhood investment
Over the next three years we will:
• invest £5 million in our new Local Investment Fund
To support local regeneration projects and improve quality of life in our neighbourhoods. This fund will attract
and complement other private and public sector funding streams including the OFMDFM’s £80 million Social
Investment Fund, DSD’s Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Sports NI Community Capital programme for sports
facilities.
• invest in our neighbourhood playgrounds, parks and open spaces
We manage more than 70 children’s playgrounds and are committed to making these accessible and inclusive to
children of various abilities. Over the next three years we will invest £2 million in refurbishing and maintaining these
facilities, starting with five of our playgrounds at Finlay, Alexandra (Upper), Highfield, Marrowbone and Glassmullin.
They will be completely refurbished and we will replace older playground equipment in five other sites at Grampian
Avenue, Ligoniel, Knocknagoney, Alderman Tommy Patton Memorial Park and Lenadoon. We will also maximise
community involvement in the redevelopment of parks (such as Dunville and Woodvale) and other open spaces
across the city to improve the benefit to local people.
• invest £1.5 million in delivering our Renewing the Routes programme
We will deliver Phase III of our innovative and award-winning Renewing the Routes programme. Over 50
environmental, commercial and heritage improvement schemes will be delivered in this phase.
• deal with dilapidated and derelict buildings
The economic downturn has seen an increase in the number of derelict and dilapidated buildings across
Belfast. We will take positive action on a number of these properties and improve them to help regenerate
local areas.
Positive relations and shared space
Over the next three years we will:
• roll out £4 million EU PEACE III funding to support local community programmes
to reinforce our on-going work to build positive relations with a focus on tackling
sectarianism and racism;
• provide £1.4 million of this to focus on a youth engagement, intervention and
tension monitoring initiative aimed at breaking the cycle of youth involvement in
interface violence and reducing community tensions;
• create an interfaces regeneration strategy to support and advocate for affected
communities to regenerate those neighbourhoods whilst safely and sensitively
working towards reducing barriers; and
• continue to implement the actions in our Good Relations Plan to: secure shared
city space, transform contested space, develop shared cultural space, build
shared organisational space and continue to assess all of our activity in terms of its
Available on our website:
contribution to our equality and good relations objectives.
www.belfastcity.gov.uk/goodrelations
32DRAFT
Investment Programme 2012-15
8 - People, communities and neighbourhoods
Reduce inequalities and tackle disadvantage
Over the next three years we will implement the actions in our
Poverty and Social Inequalities Framework which include:
• ensuring our services are accessible,
• targeting our resources more effectively,
• working in partnership with other lead government
departments to deliver on the ground projects that
will support citizens,
• advocating for the people of Belfast who are
experiencing poverty and inequalities,
• continuing our work on reducing fuel poverty and our
fuel stamps initiative, and
• working with Land and Property Services to maximise
uptake of rates relief.
Tackle health inequalities
Over the next three years we will:
• deliver £3.5 million of health and well-being
programmes to tackle health inequalities
through the Active Belfast Partnership (the
Public Health Agency, the Belfast Health Trust,
DSD and Sports NI) including:
- better use of local parks and leisure
facilities including promoting free access to
leisure centres for those people in the most
deprived areas;
- the creation of more community gardens
and allotments, the development of a
‘Growing Your Own’ food programme; and
- the further roll-out of outdoor gyms.
• work with partners on the Belfast Strategic
Partnership to deliver the actions in the
Framework for Action on Addressing Life
Inequalities, including joint work on mental
health, alcohol and drug related health issues,
life-long learning and early years.
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