MAKING MOVE BETTER BELFAST CHAMBER’S BLUEPRINT FOR A MORE VIBRANT, ACCESSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE CITY

As the voice of business in Belfast, Belfast There is virtually no aspect of the life Chamber has an ambitious vision for our city. of a successful city that isn’t impacted positively We want to see Belfast continue with the by a first-class connectivity and transportation transformation it has undergone in recent years. network. • We want to see more jobs, more investment, • An efficient transportation system is essential for more growth and improved wellbeing for all of getting workers to and from their place the citizens of our city and the region it serves of work; • We want to see a more vibrant Belfast with an • An attractive public transport network improves attractive public realm and mixed-use city centre our sustainability and encourages healthier in which increasing numbers of people choose to lifestyles; live, work, study, visit and socialise. • Good transports links can enable the realisation • We want to see a Belfast that grows sustainably of urban redevelopment schemes; and become a place where we can enhance • Effective connections are part of what attracts everyone’s quality of life. businesses to invest in cities and act as a magnet • We want to see more people living in central for talent; and Belfast, enjoying more open and green space • Streets that are vibrant, safe and attractive are and vibrant and active public spaces the foundation of urban life, encouraging people • We want to see Belfast become a city where to visit and stay, enabling businesses to flourish public transport is prevalent, pedestrians and and creating a liveable environment. cyclists have more and better space to move Business is a crucial stakeholder in our around and where we are less reliant on city – creating jobs, investing in the future private cars. and as guardians of central Belfast. Belfast Improving connectivity and accessibility and needs a thriving business community and enhancing how people move around our city an understanding of how the city’s economy is key to achieving all of those ambitions. functions should underpin any policy decisions in this important area.

THE VOICE FOR BUSINESS BELFASTCHAMBER.COM A STEP CHANGE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

The advantages of a well-functioning public Belfast Chamber supports a step change in transport system in a city are multiple. Recent public transport in our city with a long-term research by Grant Thornton on behalf of funding plan put in place to deliver much Translink found that not only did buses and needed interventions such as: trains in Northern help to reduce traffic congestion, drive economic growth and protect • The development of the new Belfast the environment, they also support social Transport Hub at the earliest possible date inclusion, help create a healthier population to provide a state of the art, integrated and connect communities. public transport gateway into the city; Translink’s own service proves how • The roll out of an integrated ticketing system investment in high quality public transport for public and across the can really work. In its first year of operation, region; it attracted over 2 million additional journeys • Rapid deployment of Glider Phase 2 to Belfast – like cities everywhere – faces Belfast Chamber has developed a blueprint for along the route over and above the previous provide mass transit connecting the North accessibility and connectivity challenges. a more accessible city that is underpinned bus only service. This represented an increase and South of our city and connecting to the Belfast has just 18% of NI’s population but by a set of common-sense principles including: of more than 30% and 1.7 million fewer cars on Transport Hub; 30% of the region’s jobs. How do we get that • Working towards a central Belfast that is less the road and helped Translink to achieve its increasing volume of people in and out of the • Upgrade of existing bus lanes to provide dependent on private cars and where access highest passenger journey numbers across its city efficiently each day? Our public transport proper continuous routes, giving buses by pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and network in over 20 years. system is greatly improved but still falls far priority over cars, while reducing the number necessary vehicles is prioritised short of where a city of our scale should be. Belfast Chamber also believes that investment of bus lanes on less congested arterial routes How do we persuade more people to get out • Making public transport an affordable, in public transportation is essential if we are that are close to existing major of their cars and on to public transport and attractive and a viable alternative to the to fully realise the maximum benefits from our bus corridors; what investments does that require? The city private car many urban regeneration schemes. Evidence • Investment in zero emission, zero carbon, is undergoing an unprecedented period of from the opening of a new line in Lyon, • Adopting a gradual, investment-first prioritised public transport across the city; regeneration. How do we ensure that new France, shows that it helped quadruple the rate approach to major changes in connectivity developments are connected to the city centre, of regeneration along the corridor it served. • Additional park and ride facilities at key in central Belfast, recognising that a half- to each other and to surrounding communities? locations around the edge of the city and century of poor planning decisions that have It is clear that many, indeed most, of the bus in surrounding towns, and the expansion of Belfast Chamber understands the role of led to a dispersed pattern of housing and lanes in our city do not operate efficiently existing popular park and rides at places like streets as the primary building block of retail can’t be corrected overnight. because they are not continuous. The gaps in Dundonald and Cairnshill; cities. Streets pre-date the buildings that bus lanes cause bottle-necks that constrain • Supporting the use of new technology to define them and streets will outlive them. the movement of buses as well as other road • The examination of the possibility of a new promote zero emission public transport Urbanists understand that streets deliver users. For bus lanes to be effective they must rail station and public transport interchange and cars. the movement that is the lifeblood or cities. be as continuous as possible to make public at Gamble Street to service the new Ulster Specifically, through movement is the essential • Growing the amount of residential space transport free moving and, essentially, to give University campus and growing City characteristic of cities; through movement by in central Belfast will address many it priority over the car. Continuous bus lanes Quays development; people walking, on bicycles, on public transport accessibility issues and is also good for re- will also greatly help cyclists. At the same • An hourly Enterprise service connecting and even, within limits, in cars. Evidence shows energising the city. time, Belfast Chamber believes that it is not Belfast to initially at peak times, then that the diverse mix of uses we value in our necessary to provide bus lanes on every arterial Making Belfast Move Better is Belfast throughout the day; and urban environment is supported where streets route. Effective and frequent public transport Chamber’s contribution to the debate and support a mix of transport types, i.e. mixed-use can be provided on some roads without • A feasibility study into the development discussion about how, through improvements streets support mixed use development. bus lanes. of a high-speed rail connection between in accessibility and connectivity, our city can Belfast and Dublin. continue to grow and do so in a way that Belfast badly needs more investment in public balances the need for further growth and transport on the scale of the first phase of the investment in Belfast as the driver of the whole Glider to persuade more people to make the region’s economy with the desire for such shift away from cars and allow the city to reap growth to be environmentally sustainable. the environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness advantages that it brings. BUILDING A VIBRANT CENTRAL BELFAST

Central Belfast is the engine room of sustainable modes of transport than it currently the entire city’s economy. Stretching is. But achieving that aim will take time and requires considerable upfront investment. north to south between our two

university campuses, and from east to A PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY CITY west between the Quarter and the , the city centre is host Belfast Chamber believes that our city centre needs more high-quality streets which prioritise to the vast majority of Belfast’s retail, pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and taxis. office, tourism and leisure offer. Shared streets where pedestrians, cyclists, But, like many city centres, Belfast public transport and necessary vehicles mix faces unparalleled challenges. safely together like Mariahilferstrasse in Vienna, Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich and St Peter’s Square Belfast, was not built and developed with in Manchester, make walking and cycling safe, the car in mind but now accommodates a bring people into the commercial heart of the considerable numbers of cars. Belfast Chamber city via buses and trams and encourage a more believes that, over time, diverse mix of businesses including needs to become much more accessible by pavement cafes.

©Crown Copyright 2020 Permit Number: 180002 MAP 1: PROPOSED PUBLIC TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENTS

KEY

Transport interchange at Belfast Ulster University Hub with hourly Enterprise service Potential for rail station and Glider phase 2 to connect Hub and interchange at Gamble Street Ulster University Above from left to right: New Street Birmingham and Banhofstrasse, Zurich

Belfast Chamber aspires to creating similarly Belfast Chamber supports: vibrant ‘Great Streets’ in places like Great • The urgent progress on the next phases Victoria Street, Wellington Place/Chichester of the Streets Ahead project; Street and Victoria Street, with car traffic calmed, mixed-use streets providing the • The extension of phase 2 of the Glider and lifeblood of through movement that our city Metro services running dual directions needs to thrive. along Royal Avenue and Donegall Place to connect Ulster University, TriBeCa and other Investment in superior streetscapes bring developments directly to the city core; benefits in terms of increased footfall and improved trading for local businesses. UK • The provision of pedestrian-friendly streets, walking Charity Living Streets found that such as by the removal of parking bays along in Piccadilly in Stoke-on-Trent, a £10 million Belfast’s ‘Great Streets’ such as Donegall investment to make the area more pedestrian- Place, Wellington Place and Chichester friendly led to 30% more footfall, while a traffic Street to allow for increased space for management and public realm improvement pedestrians and cyclists, but a halt on scheme in Kelso in the Scottish Borders further pedestrianisation; increased town centre footfall by 28%. Belfast • Maintaining Wellington Place, Donegall needs more investment in high quality, mixed Square North and Chichester Street as use streets in the city centre. mixed use streets for all types of vehicular Belfast City Centre was largely pedestrianised movement in order to support a vibrant in the 1970s as a result of the security mixed use city core; cordon that was erected around the city. It • A recognition that taxis are a necessary can be argued that Belfast is actually over- element of the city’s transportation system pedestrianised in comparison to many other ©Crown Copyright 2020 Permit Number: 180002 and are especially important to the night- European cities. The evidence shows that the time economy and in providing door-to- MAP 2: A MORE PEDSTRIAN FRIENDLY CITY CENTRE parts of the city that are thriving, particularly in door transport for people with a mobility the night-time economy such as the Cathedral impairment, and ought to be allowed to Quarter, the Linen Quarter and Donegall KEY Donegall Place and Royal Avenue to be remodeled as a ‘Great access bus lanes. Square, are where streets are pedestrian Street’ with landscaping and Glider phase 2 and metro services in dual directions friendly but not pedestrianised. These locations are witnessing new developments in hospitality Wellington Place to Chichester Street to be remodeled as a and tourism, offices and banks, bespoke retail ‘Great Street’ with pavements widened while allowing access and convenience shops, and, importantly, by all vehicle types residential in the form of student housing. Existing pedestrianised street This is not a coincidence. It is a fact that fully pedestrianised streets generally support only Existing streets with limited access by cars one use class namely Existing areas of evening economy comparison retail. IMPROVED CYCLING CREATING MORE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPEN SPACE Whilst there has been an increase in Central Belfast severely lacks the recreational cycling in over amount of open and green public recent years, Department for Infrastructure space that a city of its size needs. figures show that only 2% of people normally Green and open space should almost cycle to or from work. Innovations like the be considered as the Belfast’s ‘living Belfast Bike system have been a welcome rooms’. As well as being places for addition to the city but, overall, Belfast’s citizens of all ages, tourists and cycling infrastructure lags far behind that of workers to come together to enjoy other cities and is doing little to help increase life in the city, they can greatly assist the percentage of workers cycling to work. connectivity and accessibility. Belfast Chamber calls for: Belfast Chamber believes that, as Belfast grows, serious • The construction of more safe and separated consideration needs to be given to cycle lanes across the city; the location and quality of the green • The enhancement of bus lanes to become and open space within the city. more continuous, which will benefit cyclists; Belfast Chamber supports: • The expansion of the Belfast Bikes scheme; • The creation of a new greened • The continued development of greenways public square at Castle Place into and through the city centre, building on connecting to Corn Market and the success of the Comber and Connswater Arthur Square and incorporating Greenways; and a play park and space for events; • The introduction of new state of the art • An examination of how to make ‘cycle parks’ similar to those in European better use of the grounds around cities such as Utrecht at locations like the Pic: Belfast Bikes the City Hall to create a more new Transport Hub. open and appealing ; • The development of Cathedral Gardens as a new urban park; CAR PARKING • Improvement schemes for places like Blackstaff Square, Bank

Even though Belfast Chamber aspires to Belfast Chamber calls for: Square and Bankmore Square ©Crown Copyright 2020 Permit Number: 180002 a more car free central Belfast, the right • Maintenance of the current level of car including provision for children’s amount of car parking in the correct locations MAP 3: PROPOSED PUBLIC SPACE ENHANCEMENTS parking through the development of more active play; will remain important. Belfast Chamber agrees multi storey car parks in key gateway with the vision set out in ’s • Consideration of the creation location on the edge of central Belfast and KEY Car Parking Strategy that Belfast becomes of a new waterfront park; Cathedral Gardens as a new urban park the reduction in the number of surface car with play facilities “a city offering sufficient, high quality and and parks to be replaced with new developments appropriately located parking which supports Writers Square to be remodeled as part or open/green spaces; economic development and regeneration within • The animation of new and existing of proposed Tribeca development green and open spaces with the city by balancing the requirements of • Provision of a city-centre wide network activities such as markets, music Proposed Tribeca development residents, businesses, commuters and visitors” of electric car charging points; and it’s stated aim of maintaining the current events and coffee docks. Bank Square to include children’s play area • A digital information system to inform level of car parking. Donegall Place and Royal Avenue to be drivers which car parks have available spaces remodeled as a ‘Great Street’ with hard Whilst Belfast Chamber understands the as they approach the city; and and soft landscaping and public desire of many to radically and rapidly reduce • A time bound commitment to reduce the transport areas the number of car parking spaces in our city number of parking spaces in the city centre, it must be borne in mind that car Major new green public space and Castle centre that are owned and used by the Place with space for events and children parking is often an essential element to many public sector. play connecting to Corn Market and Upper new developments and is especially important Arthur Street to the retail sector who are competing with out of town shopping centres who usually offer Arthur Square to be reimagined as free parking. an event space Examine how to make City Hall grounds more useable, permeable and open to Donegall Square CONNECTING NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND INVESTING IN OUR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES TO THE CITY CENTRE ROADS INFRASTRUCTURE Although much of our focus has been on Central Belfast is growing. shifting people away from cars and towards Developments like , alternatives like walking, cycling and public Waterside, City Quays and the transport, it has to be recognised that some Transport Hub are redefining what continued investment in the roads network we traditionally would consider as in and around Belfast is required. Belfast city centre. At the same time, Belfast Chamber supports: existing residential communities are becoming cut-off by road • The redevelopment of the York Street infrastructure. It is imperative that, Interchange which will help relieve pressure as central Belfast grows, these areas on parts of the city centre and provide don’t become isolated ‘islands’ and a sizeable boost to the entire region’s are well connected to each other and economy; the existing central core. and Belfast has, in the shape of Victoria • The construction of a new grade-separated Street, Dunbar Link and Millfield, junction on the Sydenham Bypass to help a ring of heavy roads around the unlock the full economic potential of east, north and west of the city Titanic Quarter. centre which are major barriers to pedestrian movement. These roads need to be ‘softened’ to provide a more accessible environment to STIMULATING pedestrians and cyclists. CITY LIVING Belfast Chamber calls for: Belfast has a very underpopulated city centre As well as being crucial to transforming Belfast • The ‘Boulevarding’ of roads in comparison to other cities across the UK and into a vibrant 24/7 city, increasing the number like Dunbar Link, Millfield and Ireland. The Council’s Belfast Agenda contains of residents in central Belfast is every bit as Oxford Street to make them more the ambition that, by 2035 “our city is home to important to dealing with connectivity issues attractive, tree lined thoroughfares an additional 66,000 people”. Belfast Chamber as, for example, investing in public transport as with ‘supercrossings’ to wholeheartedly supports this goal. it will, for a large number of people, eliminate ease pedestrian and cyclist There is a trend across the UK for growth or at least considerably minimise the need connections across them to the in city centre living. Belfast has been no neighbouring new developments to commute. Indeed, having more people exception. Although its 31% in city centre and consideration given to make living in the heart of the city may reduce population between 2001 and 2011 does not Victoria Street and Oxford Street the requirement for investments in some compare favourably to those in , two-way to calm the flow of traffic infrastructure and will have the added benefits Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester who saw and make them operate as Great of being more sustainable. the number of people living in the heart of their Streets and not traffic channels; ©Crown Copyright 2020 Permit Number: 180002 cities increase by 181%, 163%, 150% and 149% MAP 4: CREATING BETTER CONNECTIONS Attaining the Council’s target – which will • Provide public transport respectively between 2002 and 2015. With require in excess of 30,000 new homes across connections to link the new around 5,000 people living in central Belfast, the city – but reaching it will not be achieved developments and residential KEY our city centre has approximately 7 times fewer by following the same policies that communities into the city core; Ring road infrastructure barrier to pedestrian movement - To be inhabitants than Manchester. presently exist. and boulevarded to soften impact The development of purpose built student Belfast Chamber believes that a more • Pedestrian and cycling bridges accommodation has been a welcome addition populated city centre should be stimulated by: Existing inner core residential from City Quays to the Odyssey to the city but there is capacity for more and communities • Rates exemptions for private sector built and Titanic Quarter, from a virtual absence of private rented sector/‘buy Waterside to the Waterfront Hall student accommodation and ‘buy to rent’ to rent’ properties. More of this type of and from Ormeau to the Gasworks. Need for greatly enhanced pedestrian properties in the city; permeability - Supercrossings accommodation is essential if Belfast is to retain and attract the kind of our young talent • Reduced car parking requirements for city Pedestrian and cycle bridge to connect that our economy needs to succeed and which centre housing; is driving the growth in city living in Great City Quays to Titanic Quarter • Schemes to help convert empty retail space Britain. Surveys have shown that renting a and space above retail premises to housing; Re-Connect Great Georges Street home close to their work or university – usually to Corporation Street in prime city centre locations – is important to and an overwhelming majority of millennials. • More open and green spaces to encourage people to live in the city

ABOUT BELFAST CHAMBER

Since its inception in 1912, Belfast Businesses join Belfast Chamber because Chamber has been the voice for they recognise that we are the only business business in the city. Belfast Chamber organisation that is focussed on lobbying for represents over 500 businesses and supporting all businesses within the entire city of Belfast. We put Belfast First. of all sizes, in all sectors and in all parts of Belfast. Our growing We passionately believe that the voice of membership employs thousands business in Belfast must be listened to by policy makers and politicians in order to of people and contribute hundreds build the strongest possible framework for of millions of pounds to the local investment and business growth. We want economy annually. those policymakers to also put Belfast First. Membership of Belfast Chamber gives companies access to a full range of services to enhance business success and establish stronger relationships within the wider Belfast business community. To find out how to join us or for further information, visit www.belfastchamber.com

THE VOICE FOR BUSINESS BELFASTCHAMBER.COM