Murphy Backs City Regeneration Bid

Last week's City of Quarters Conference has been hailed a success in promoting a better infrastructure for Belfast.

Pictured are the NI Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy with international experts on city regeneration and economic renewal (left to right) Thomas A. Dunne from Fordham University, New York and Dr Antonio Hermosilla from Barcelona.

Speaking at the conference, Minister Murphy announced an agreement between DRD, Translink and SIB to explore the opportunities for a new Integrated Transport Hub for Belfast.

The two day summit aimed at exchanging ideas and best practice to enable Belfast City to speak with one voice in promoting its resources, cultural diversity, expertise, skills and people both locally and internationally.

A follow up summit is scheduled to take place in 9th-10th June in New York in order to showcase the Belfast City's proposition to investors as well as political and community representatives in the USA.

The transport proposal would utilise part of the extensive site at Grosvenor Road owned by Translink, together with the existing facilities at Glengall Street, which comprise the Europa Bus Centre and Great Victoria Street Train station.

Speaking prior to the publication of a prospectus to gauge private sector interest in the project, Minister Murphy said: "I welcome the opportunities that this project would create to provide a more integrated and accessible signature transport facility within Belfast.

"Clearly in a difficult budgetary context it is important that we explore the possibilities for private sector investment before commitments are made, but this project has the potential to create the leading transportation hub.

"This scheme would provide a new strategic transport link to support the economic growth of Belfast, whilst creating substantial job opportunities and is consistent with the designation of the Grosvenor Road site as a gateway to the city centre.

"It can also be seen as providing an opportunity for Translink to streamline their bus depot facilities in the medium term," he continued.

"Whilst the project is primarily a transport project the development could have wider dimensions and these will be explored with a range of different local and central government stakeholders as well as community and representative groups.

"On the basis of a high level case, I have asked Translink and the Strategic Investment Board to proceed with further environmental and transport assessments and to engage with the private sector to explore the commercial opportunities created by the development."

(BMcC/GK)