What is a City Deal?
A City Deal is a bespoke package of funding and decision-making powers agreed between central government and local regions; aimed at helping to harness additional investment, create new jobs and accelerate inclusive economic growth.
City Deals target resources, based on a deep understanding of regional needs and ambitions. Their goal is to transform regional economies for the widest possible benefit.
Since 2011, there have been three waves of City Deals, covering virtually every major city across England, Scotland and Wales. The Belfast Region City Deal is the first signed Deal for Northern Ireland.
Belfast Region City Deal Overview
The signing of the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) in December 2021 was a key milestone for the Belfast region, securing the substantial financial commitment from central government and BRCD Partners.
The UK Government and NI Executive have each committed £350 million and partners a further £150 million. By leveraging additional private sector investment, the partners will deliver a programme with an overall value well over £1 billion, strengthening 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 our region’s regeneration, underpinned by infrastructure developments and skills investment to connect people to jobs and services.
The highly ambitious BRCD arrives at a critical time and represents a new way of working between central and local government and regional partners. The substantial financial commitment, which will be further supplemented by the private sector, will generate up to 20,000 jobs as it is delivered over the next 10-15 years. It’s an exciting, once in a generation opportunity to accelerate economic growth for the region in an inclusive and sustainable way. This short film outlines our plans.
We estimate that over the lifetime of the programme, the BRCD will:
- Support the creation of up to 20,000 jobs
- Connect people living here to new and better jobs
- Place the region at the top table of digital innovation
- Deliver £400 million in GVA directly on-site and within the region
- Target delivery of almost £1 billion of private sector leverage
- Create compelling world-class visitor attractions
- Help to regenerate major towns and cities
- Foster collaborative working
The BRCD’s ambitions for inclusive growth will be delivered through these pillars of investment:
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Innovation
& DigitalAchieving world leading competitive advantage in key sectors: building our innovation and digital capability - facilitating invention, commercialisation and widespread adoption as a driver of economic prosperity and increased well-being.
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Tourism &
RegenerationBoosting tourism and regenerating our region – creating world-class visitor attractions and investing in towns and cities to provide a year-round destination that will provide stand out in international markets.
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Infrastructure
Connecting people to opportunity and services through enhanced and sustainable infrastructure.
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Employability
& SkillsEnabling a constant pipeline of appropriately skilled talent to support the job opportunities resulting from the BRCD programme of investment.
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BRCD Funding
NI Executive
UK Government
BRCD Partners
Private Sector Contributions
Total Investment
Inclusive growth and sustainability
Inclusive growth is at the heart of BRCD investment. It’s a comprehensive and sustainable approach to economic development that recognises and balances the needs of society, the economy and the environment.
BRCD will deliver upon its vision and commitment to inclusive growth and sustainability by:
- Delivering the BRCD Employability and Skills Programme
- Integrating inclusion and sustainability commitments during project design and development
- Holding projects to account for the delivery of their inclusion and sustainability commitments
- Using policy levers to integrate inclusive growth