Statement issued on behalf of the Belfast Region City Deal partners

Ards and North Down Borough Council, along with our Belfast Region City Deal partners, welcomed clarification on Monday 16 September 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.

We welcome the statement from the finance minister to the Northern Ireland Assembly, delivered on Monday as outlined:

"The Secretary of State is happy to confirm that following communication with HMT nothing has changed on the status of the Belfast Region City Deal, which was signed back in December 2021 and continues to make great progress."

Belfast Region City Deal partners also welcome the positive news that the Derry City and Strabane District Council City Deal will be signed on Wednesday of this week, and wish to state their unequivocal support for colleagues in the Mid-South West Growth Deal and the Causeway Coast & Glens Growth Deal. We urge the UK Government to lift the pause on commitments relating to those Deals. Together, the four deals 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 the delivery phase with:

15 Outline Business Cases approved, including the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment
12 legally executed Contracts for Funding signed, including the Bangor Waterfront Redevelopment, totalling approximately £600m
15 ICT contracts awarded including 2 for Bangor Waterfront
two projects in construction
a number of projects already in operation.

Having signed the £40M BRCD Contract for Funding in January 2023, work continues apace on the exciting Bangor Waterfront Regeneration plans which will transform the long-term economic growth of our city, as well as enhancing the quality of life for the people who live, work, study, do business, and invest here, now and in the years to come.