The Belfast Region City Deal partners welcome the clarification received today, Monday September 16, 2024, from the Department of Finance, following communication between the NI Secretary of State and HM Treasury in relation to the continued commitment to the Belfast Region City Deal, signed in December 2021.
The partners also welcome the statement from the Finance Minister to the Northern Ireland Assembly, delivered this afternoon.
The City & Growth Deal projects are critical to Northern Ireland’s long-term economic growth, regeneration and transformation, supporting both inclusive growth and our competitiveness on a global stage. The Belfast Region City Deal partners welcome the positive news that the Derry City and Strabane District Council City Deal will be signed on Wednesday of this week and look forward to working with our colleagues to ensure that together, we achieve the maximum positive impacts from this regional investment. We also wish to state our very clear support for our colleagues in the Mid-South West Growth Deal and the Causeway Coast & Glens Growth Deal – and urge the UK Government to lift the pause on commitments relating to those Deals. The four deals together offer significant growth potential for Northern Ireland as a whole.
The Belfast Region City Deal – the result of a strong and established partnership – is now well into delivery phase, with 15 Outline Business Cases approved, 12 legally executed Contracts for Funding signed totalling approximately £600m, 15 ICT contracts awarded, two projects in construction and a number of projects already in operation. It is a delivery vehicle which is clearly fit for purpose.
The Belfast Region City Deal is already creating more and better jobs in our centres of excellence, leveraging additional external funding, supporting the delivery of crucial skills pipelines and developing inclusive growth and social value. Our Deal will create a wide range of opportunities for local SMEs, innovators and entrepreneurs to deliver inclusive innovation and to address regional challenges including sustainability, resilience and net-zero, as well as the health and wellbeing of our communities.
The Belfast Region City Deal partners remain focused on fully implementing our Deal and on maximising the wide range of benefits this investment will bring to our region and the people who live here.
