Belfast City Council has launched its City Regeneration and Investment strategy at the Waterfront Hall.

The 'Belfast: Future City – making it real' event aims to transform the city by creating more jobs, increasing the population, attracting new retail offerings, and further developing the tourism industry.

It will also support innovation and learning, develop city centre green areas for cyclists and walkers, connect outlying areas to the centre and enhance shared spaces.

It is undergoing a £30 million facelift to include conference and exhibition facilities.

Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Guy Spence, pointed out that a new era was beckoning for Belfast and urged private and public sector partners to play their part in ensuring the economic success of Belfast, which will drive growth across Northern Ireland.

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He said: "With the new powers that have come our way with local government reform - land use planning, community planning, regeneration, increased tourism powers - we now have the opportunity to build on current successes.

"But we need to work in partnership with developers, business people, entrepreneurs and government agencies to deliver. We, as a council, can become the enablers, to make it easier for developers to develop, businesses to do business, for people to work live and play here. We all have a part to play.

"The City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy is significant as it is the result of an extensive consultation process during the past year. It will shape the development of the core of our city during the next 10-15 years."

The council also unveiled an £18.7 million City Centre Investment Fund.

It allows the council to support projects brought forward by others that will impact on the city centre economy. The support will be flexible and innovative and options could include providing part loan financing for projects or acquiring properties or sites for development.

(CD/LM)