Proposed improvement objectives and indicative actions for 2026-27

We will continue to adapt and improve our services to better meet the needs of our residents and stakeholders.

Indicative actions:

• Continue to deliver the Planning Service Improvement Plan.
• Continue to deliver the Customer Focus Programme, to enhance our services and customer experience. 
• Deliver a street cleansing programme to create a cleaner and greener city. 
• Deliver phase three of the kerbside glass expansion programme to enhance customer service and improve recycling rates. 
• Finalise the development of the Asset Management Strategy and commence implementation to ensure Council owned and managed land and property assets will be used effectively to support service delivery and the delivery of objectives in the Corporate Plan and the Belfast Agenda 

We will improve our local areas and provide opportunities to support our residents to become healthier and engaged.

Indicative actions: 

• Progress the development and delivery of the Council’s Physical Programme to enable needs led investment across the city i.e. Capital Programme, Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund, Belfast Investment Fund, Local Investment Fund, Social Outcomes Fund, PEACEPLUS, Urban Villages and other initiatives. 
• Progress the current phase of the Leisure Transformation Programme (Girdwood) and agree the next phase of Leisure improvements to transform the quality of Council leisure facilities.  
• Progress the development of projects in the Pitches Strategy to enhance the quality and availability of sports pitches across the city. 
• Enhance our playgrounds, to ensure that we continue to provide high quality facilities and equipment across the city (Playground Improvement Programme). 
• Deliver animation and outreach activities in community, play and leisure development programmes. 
• Progress delivery of the £10.28m Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund to help develop facilities that support neighbourhood tourism, improved environmental sustainability and social economy activity within communities.
• Increase the number of people using our leisure centres, to participate in sport and physical activity. 
• Deliver improvements to parks and open spaces to improve people’s health and wellbeing through multimillion pound transformational schemes.

We will create a more vibrant, attractive, and connected city (including the city centre).

Indicative actions:

• Oversee the delivery of the 2026 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s largest annual festival of Irish music, song and dance. 
• Undertake work to safeguard and enhance Council’s historic, heritage and tourism assets including Belfast Zoo, Historic Cemeteries, Wilmont House, Floral Hall, St. George’s Market, Assembly Rooms and the Palm House. 
• Continue to progress infrastructure works at the North Foreshore to support the development of the site.
• Continue to work with the developer on emerging development specifications for the 250- acre Giant’s Park site as set out in the Master Development Agreement.
• Deliver the Greenways and the Access to the Hills Programme to improve the connectivity of the city. 

We will create a more sustainable, nature-positive city.

Indicative actions:

• Deliver effective waste management services across Belfast
• Progress a potential heat network that aims to decarbonise the heat supply to buildings in the city by exploring options to lower the cost of heat and secure grant finance.
• Protect and enhance our local environment and natural eco-systems through the existing Botanic Gardens demonstrator site and, in conjunction with communities, support the development of 4 similar satellite sites.
• Embed sustainable food practices and partnership working in Belfast by launching a city-wide Sustainable Food Strategy, that focuses on reducing food waste and community growing.
• Enable the city to decarbonise at scale by developing and launching a web-portal to increase the take up of rooftop solar across Belfast.
• Continue to deliver the Council Corporate Climate Action Plan to increase the climate resilience of Council assets and services, to achieve net zero emissions and to increase the climate resilience of its assets and services’, (over 20 actions including a Sustainable Food Policy, energy audits of Council buildings and retrofitting of Council buildings).
• Continue to deliver the Council's Tree Strategy and action plan to help manage and improve the tree scape in the city.

We will stimulate inclusive growth and innovation, help businesses to start-up and grow and create opportunities for more and better jobs and employment.

Indicative actions:

• Work with the Enterprise Support Service to deliver ‘Go Succeed' to increase the number of new business starts.
• Deliver employment and upskilling academies to support business growth by promoting inclusive labour market opportunities in line with industry demand. 
• Support our suppliers by helping business cashflow through the prompt payment of invoices. 
• Deliver the Smart Belfast urban innovation programme to enhance Belfast’s capacity for digital innovation.
• Deliver the Belfast Learning Festival to increase awareness of the opportunities to engage in lifelong learning across the city.
• Deliver an enhanced Belfast Business Promise programme implementing learning and recommendations from the programme review.
• Continue to recruit suitable entry level posts, e.g. placement opportunities, as part of the Council’s People Strategy action plan, to support our inclusive growth ambitions.

We will support our most vulnerable people to make Belfast a more caring, safe and inclusive city.

Indicative actions:

• Deliver local community action plans as part of the PEACEPLUS programme, to fund community activities and infrastructure project that help build peace and reconciliation in Belfast. 
• Deliver a Community Support Plan to support local communities and residents across the city. 
• Progress the delivery of up to 5 capital projects across the city as part of the PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan to promote inclusive and shared spaces across Belfast i.e. Sanctuary Theatre, Distillery Street Redevelopment Project, Annadale Open Space, Access to the Hills and LGBTQIA+ Hub.