The Ministers for Infrastructure and Communities and Belfast City Council have committed to delivering “A Bolder Vision for Belfast”.

The Bolder Vision Strategy, which is currently being finalised, will set out a joint vision and an agreed approach by the Departments and Council. It will be the blueprint for major investment decisions on the delivery of all current and future planning, regeneration and infrastructure projects across our city.

The Bolder Vision Strategy will be supported by an action plan which will detail placemaking interventions that will deliver the vision and transform how communities are connected in Belfast, by linking the universities, reclaiming streets and spaces, and embracing the River Lagan.

It will challenge us collectively to ensure that our projects and interventions are sufficiently future-proofed, by ensuring we embed climate solutions. It will also challenge us to be innovative, ambitious and responsive so that we are able to provide streets for people while simultaneously facilitating effective public transportation connections in the heart of our city.

Working in partnership with stakeholders, investors and local communities, the two Departments in association with Belfast City Council, will implement A Bolder Vision, as the pre-eminent policy for place-based infrastructure investment decisions, to transform Belfast into a more accessible, attractive, vibrant and globally competitive city.

Minister for Infrastructure John O’Dowd said: “The last three years have demonstrated how much has changed in relation to how we live, travel, work and shop. To make the most of that change for the benefit of all the people who live in, work in and visit Belfast, we must be ambitious and continue to seize every opportunity for further transformation.

“A Bolder Vision shows what we can achieve through genuine partnership working for everyone’s benefit. We have listened to the public and the appetite for change is resounding. There will be new opportunities and challenges ahead, but together, we will transform Belfast into a greener, safer, more liveable and people-focused city. It will be well-connected within itself and further afield by road, rail and sea; an attractive place to live, work, study, visit and invest.”

All three organisations have committed to A Bolder Vision as the strategy to inform current and future placemaking opportunities and infrastructure decisions and will continue to work together on the transformation of the city centre so that it is more people-focused, supporting the diversification of uses and increasing city centre living.

For more information, go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/boldervision