Lisburn & Castlereagh Secures It's Share of the City Deal

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and its partners’ welcome the news of the £350 million allocated in today’s budget.   This forms part of close to an overall £850 million investment programme for the Belfast Region City Deal initiative.

The Mayor, Councillor Uel Mackin, said: “The commitment by Westminster to provide £350 million to support economic development projects across the six partner councils is welcome news. This investment along with the £350 million matched funding from regional sources will play a significant role in growing the Northern Ireland economy over the next number of years.  All the partner projects that were identified in the bid to Westminster will now be progressed to secure jobs, skills and innovation across Northern Ireland.”

Alderman William Leathem, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee, added: “The Council will be working very closely with its partners: the Department for Communities, the Department for Infrastructure, South Eastern Regional College (SERC), Historic Royal Palaces and the Department for the Economy to finalise the business cases for projects with a focus on its two primary projects. 

“These are the Hillsborough Tourism Master Plan, which will build upon planned investments at Hillsborough Castle to create a really world class heritage attraction; and the e-SERC Centre for Excellence in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. These projects will be supported by a significant digital infrastructure investment fund and a programme of employability and skills for the Lisburn Castlereagh area.  These projects will boost tourism, enhance local infrastructure and improve the skills and knowledge of the local workforce in this digital era.

“The investment in Hillsborough is in line with the Council’s agreed Tourism Strategy and is designed to link the key heritage sites of the village and provide an enjoyable environment for everyone visiting and living in this unique village. A key aspect of the overall City Deal concept is that ratepayers in this Council area will benefit from the partnership with Northern Ireland’s two Universities and local Colleges to drive Digital Innovation and job opportunities within a knowledge based economy.

“I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work to date and I know that their dedication will continue to get the business cases finalised and the projects underway.  Well done to everyone involved in the Belfast Region City Deal initiative."