The Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of Belfast City Council scheduled a meeting for 22 August 2025, to discuss a range of strategic and operational issues. Among the topics listed for discussion were the Belfast Region City Deal, responses to consultations from the Department for Communities, updates on the physical programme, and various requests related to the use of the City Hall.

The following topics were included in the agenda for discussion:

Belfast Region City Deal

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) and to approve the BRCD Annual Report for 2024/25. The report noted that the agreed reporting arrangements for all City and Growth Deals requires the production of an Annual Report and the requirement to meet with the Northern Ireland Delivery Board in order to discuss deal progress as part of an 'Annual Conversation'.

The report highlighted key achievements as of 31 March 2025, including:

A total of 16 projects with Outline Business Cases (OBCs) now approved alongside three Full Business Cases (FBCs) with a combined project value of £620m.

Other highlights included the commencement of construction at the iREACH Health clinical research centre and the Factory of the Future at Global Point in Newtownabbey.

Planning Information

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on major planning applications and applications determined by the Planning Committee.

Appendix 1 of the report pack listed major planning applications currently with the council, including:

• Amendments to approved schemes for lands south and west of Woodland Grange to reduce the overall density from 99 to 94 dwellings.
• A proposed extension to St Teresa's GAC to provide an indoor sports hall, changing rooms, and a fitness suite.
• A new single-storey primary school and nursery on vacant lands at the former Wolfhill Flax Spinning Mill.
• Demolition of the existing Sydenham Wastewater Pumping Station and construction of a replacement facility.
• Erection of 53 residential units at Cabin Hill.
• Change of use of the Stormont Hotel to a 97-bed care home and diagnostic medical facility.
• Outline planning permission for independent living units and assisted living units at the Stormont Hotel and adjacent properties.
• Redevelopment of Hazelwood Integrated College to include a new school campus and sports pitch.
• A variation of condition to extend the timing of works at The Kings Hall And RUAS Site.
• Development of new walking trails linking Black Mountain Shared Space Project with the Upper Whiterock Road and Moyard Parade.
• 41 retirement living apartments at Plot 6, Kings Hall.
• A multi-storey car park with ground floor units for local retail, restaurant, cafe, leisure and gym facilities at Plot 8, Kings Hall.
• A proposed change of use from office space and storage to a bowling alley, restaurant, indoor golf, children's soft play, VR zone and amusements at Adelaide Business Centre.
• Creation of a new adventure park at North Foreshore / Giant's Park.
• Refurbishment and safety work to the Waterworks Park and Alexandra Park reservoirs.
• A mixed-use scheme for new community recreational facilities and 40 social/affordable housing units at the former Dunmurry Cricket Club.
• A proposed mixed-use development comprising 36 social housing apartments and 7 business/light industrial units on lands adjacent to the Monagh By-pass.
• A mixed-use development comprising business, research & development and community and cultural uses at 38-52 Lisburn Road.
• Erection of a 164-bed hotel at 2 - 10 Botanic Avenue.
• Development of a new primary school building for Forge Integrated Primary School on the site of the former Knockbreda High School.

Appendix 2 detailed planning applications discussed at committee between 1 April 2019 and 5 August 2025.

Community Support Programme

The committee was scheduled to discuss a letter of offer from the Department for Communities (DfC) regarding the Community Support Programme (CSP) for 2025/26. The DfC had provided a 9% uplift across certain elements of the programme. The committee was asked to agree on options to allocate the additional funding, and to agree on the proposed additional funding allocation for Community Support General, Advice Grant and Welfare Reform Mitigations Extension-Tribunal Representation.

Table 1 illustrated the additional 9% uplift and available budgets under the relevant headings to be considered:

1. Community Support General £82,007.26
2. Advice Grant £60,108.77
3. Welfare Reform Mitigations Extension Tribunal Representation £6,960.79

30 Under 30 Climate Change-Makers Initiative

The committee was scheduled to discuss a request for support for the 30U30 (30 under 30) Northern Ireland Climate Change-Maker's programme. The programme is coordinated by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and Podiem. The collaborative, cross sectoral initiative, will be supported by organisations such as the Garfield Weston Foundation, Pinsent Masons, Coca Cola and Danske Bank.

The report recommended that the committee agree to contribute £8,750 plus VAT to the programme costs.

City Innovation Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on current City Innovation initiatives, including the submission to the first phase of the Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayoral Challenge competition.

The committee was asked to:

• Note the Belfast Alleyways proposal has been submitted to Bloomberg Philanthropies.
• Retrospectively approve Belfast City Council's inclusion in a joint bid to DSIT's Regulators Pioneer Fund to independently map mobile coverage in Northern Ireland and elsewhere.
• Retrospectively approve letters of support to both Ulster University and Queen's Universities for two separate, independent, funding bids to the National Institute for Health and Care Research £50m funding call to tackle health inequalities.
• Approve support for Ulster University and the Agile Ageing Alliance consortium bid to Horizon Europe's 'GenAI4EU' call to deliver a potential €5,000,000 project which would include a demonstrator in Belfast.
• Note the date of the first event in the Belfast: Inclusive Futures series and that invitations have been issued to all Members.
• Approve attendance by two officers to accompany the Belfast Innovation Commissioner to this year's Smart Cities World Congress to develop innovation funding and investment opportunities for the city.
• Approve the participation of an officer from the City Innovation Office in the i30 Inclusive Innovation Medellin visit.

Anti-Poverty Strategy Consultation

The committee was scheduled to consider a draft corporate response to the Department for Communities (DfC) draft Anti-Poverty Strategy consultation.

The draft response supported the strategy's vision and broad areas of focus, but raised concerns about the absence of detail on specific actions, timelines, targets, and a performance management framework.

Physical Programme Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Physical Programme, including requests for stage movement approvals under the Capital Programme, an update on the proposed new crematorium at Roselawn, and updates on capital letters of offer and contracts awarded.

The committee was asked to:

• Approve or note various Capital Programme Movements.
• Note the scheduled date for the dedicated workshop session on the new crematorium project.
• Note the update in relation to capital letters of offer.
• Note the update in relation to contracts awarded.

Asset Management

The committee was scheduled to discuss several asset-related matters, including:

• A lease assignment and deed of variation for St. John Vianney Youth Club.
• The disposal of lands at John Murray Lockhouse.
• A lease renewal with the BBC for the Ulster Hall Recording Studio.
• The disposal of land at Hope Street Car Park.
• A new licence at Whiterock Close for Glor-Na-Mona.
• Transition arrangements for Port Health Services.
• A new licence for Benview Community Centre.

Equality and Good Relations

The committee was scheduled to review the minutes of the Shared City Partnership Meeting held on 4 August 2025.

Requests for Use of City Hall

The committee was scheduled to consider requests for the use of City Hall and the provision of hospitality.

Use of City Hall Grounds

The committee was scheduled to consider two requests for the use of City Hall grounds:

• A staff sleep out to raise awareness of homelessness from Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) on 26 September 2025.
• A Halloween-themed animation from Belfast One BID on 24–26 October 2025.

City Hall/City Hall Grounds Installations Working Group

The committee was scheduled to review the minutes of the City Hall/City Hall Grounds Installations Working Group meeting held on 13 August 2025.