Proposals to pedestrianise parts of Belfast city centre unveiled

Proposals to significantly pedestrianise parts of Belfast city centre have been unveiled.

A city centre-wide 20mph (32km/h) speed limit would also be introduced under the proposals.

The details are contained in the draft Eastern Transport Plan 2035, which is now the subject of a 12-week public consultation.

Stormont's Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said the plans would help deliver a "modern transport system that better serves residents, businesses and visitors alike".

Under the proposals, the Bridge Street area beside the old Assembly Rooms would be transformed into a new public realm space.

Donegall Square West, which currently serves Metro buses, would be closed to traffic to become another new pedestrianised zone.

Royal Avenue and Donegall Place would return to two-way public transport traffic to accommodate the planned expansion of the Glider service to north and south Belfast.

The proposals involve "expanded pedestrian-priority streets and a new civic spine", the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said.

They also include a "city centre-wide 20mph speed limit", an "expanded segregated cycling network", reduced through-traffic and parking management reforms.

A public consultation on the 270-page Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) runs until 25 January 2027.

The consultation covers the first phase of the ETP, which focuses on proposals for Belfast city centre and the wider metropolitan area.

It was published alongside another policy document called Transport Strategy 2035, which seeks to deliver a "cleaner, smarter and more inclusive transport system".

In a statement, Kimmins said that "at its heart, the ETP is about people".

"I am committed to building a transport network that is accessible and welcoming for people of all backgrounds, incomes and abilities, enabling them to access opportunities and reach their full potential," she said.

"This draft plan is an important first step in transforming how people move around the region, and public feedback will play a vital role in shaping its future.

"I encourage everyone to share their views and engage with the consultation process so that, together, we can create a better transport system for all."

Ryan was one of those in the city centre on Monday who supported the idea of pedestrianisation.

"It would probably be a good thing with less traffic," he told BBC News NI.

"There's so many of those new bikes [around the city centre] so it would be good [to have cycle lanes for them to use].

"It maybe would encourage me to come into town more."

Visiting from Wales, Laura said it would be quite good as a tourist as "you wouldn't have to worry about cars and getting knocked over".

Richard, however, had mixed feelings.

"If you pedestrianise the streets you can kill it, particularly at night - the nighttime activity can sometimes disappear.

"I like to feel the activity with a mix of traffic and pedestrians and if it doesn't have that a city can die."

Anita said that that "certain areas" could be pedestrianised but not all of it.

"Belfast is a lovely compact city but what makes it a city is the fact the transport is so good and the fact that it's all in and around the city centre," she said.

The proposed changes would take Belfast "into the same league as most UK and European cities", according to Chris McCracken of the Linen Quarter Business Improvement District.

"It is about moving people through the city centre - it is not about moving vehicles - and that's what this policy tries to achieve," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme.

"It's unsustainable, at the minute, having too many vehicles coming through the city centre so we need to have modal shift onto public transport."

But he added: "We do need to double down to actually get this approved."

Glynn Roberts, of the campaign body Retail NI, said the proposals were "long overdue".

"I think the real test for this will be delivery," he said.

"This cannot be another well-intentioned plan that just fails to translate into meaningful action."