LCCC Workshop held on Belfast Region City Deal

July 6, 2018

With a City Deal proposal underway for the Belfast Region, a workshop with Elected Members of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council was held at Lagan Valley Island this week. The first City Deal proposal for Northern Ireland involves six local councils of which Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is one.

City Deals provide funding for large projects to help boost the economy through infrastructure, tourism, digital connectivity and job creation. The councils working together towards the first City Deal for Northern Ireland are Lisburn & Castlereagh, Belfast City, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Mid and East Antrim, Newry, Mourne and Down and Ards and North Down.

The workshop was led by consultants Stephen Wallace from KPMG; and Gordon Matheson from Matheson City Consulting. Mr Matheson shared his experience on working for the successful City Deal for the City of Glasgow.

The Mayor, Councillor Uel Mackin, said: “This is of great interest to Members given the long-term projects this Council would wish to see actioned for the betterment of the area, and of course for everyone who lives or works here.  This would include proposals for the development of the Knockmore Link Road at West Lisburn, the Dundonald International Ice Bowl with a focus on leisure, recreation and wellbeing; and complimentary strategic tourism growth in Hillsborough.”

Dr Theresa Donaldson, Chief Executive, said: “This is a collaborative project with our partner councils and a lot of work has gone on to identify projects that will bring about economic advantage and opportunity within the Lisburn Castlereagh area. Local Elected Member leadership is necessary to look to the future of the area and it was very interesting to hear first-hand experiences from the City Deal arena. This information will be extremely worthwhile as we move forward.”