{"id":580469,"date":"2025-11-19T13:32:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T13:32:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/580469\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T13:32:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T13:32:18","slug":"belfast-harbour-starts-public-consultation-into-25-year-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/580469\/","title":{"rendered":"Belfast Harbour starts public consultation into 25-year plan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">It said the 2025-50 draft masterplan aims to improve its ability to drive trade, tourism, clean growth and innovation, while shaping \u201cnew places to work, visit, live and invest in\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\n https:\/\/www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk\/editorial\/web\/newsletter\/qs\/business.js\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">The masterplan includes Belfast\u2019s first land reclamation project for 25 years to build a new freight terminal; shore power for docked ships; wharf redevelopment for larger cargo vessels, regeneration to create residential neighbourhoods and a new clean energy hub.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">But it said large parts of its plans rely on its accounting status as a public corporation to be changed so that it can \u201cprudently borrow to fund bigger projects\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">It said: \u201cThe NI Executive is supportive of change and Belfast Harbour is hopeful for legislation from the Assembly to enable a solution.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">Belfast Harbour said the masterplan was informed by forecasts that its trade volumes could grow from 24 million tonnes today to up to 40 million by 2050 \u2013 which would require additional capacity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">According to Ulster University research, the harbour handles goods and freight valued at \u00a326.7bn each year.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dr Theresa Donaldson, chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/8754570f-3aa1-48c9-83f8-1c7f7434fbf7.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Dr Theresa Donaldson, chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">Dr Theresa Donaldson, chair of Belfast Harbour, said: \u201cBelfast Harbour benefits from having a large land area with prime deepwater access. This gives us room to grow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">&#8220;Our plan shows how we could use that advantage to become the leading port on the Dublin\u2013Belfast Economic Corridor while deepening trade and transport links globally and with Great Britain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">&#8220;With the help of this draft masterplan, we are on track to become one of the fastest-growing ports in the UK by 2050.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Belfast Harbour has started a public consultation into a draft masterplan for the next 25 years\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/947e2ef9-b812-4276-bb69-d8162269b1cf.jpg\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Belfast Harbour has started a public consultation into a draft masterplan for the next 25 years<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">News Catch Up &#8211; Tuesday 18 November  <\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">She said the plan was \u201cboth ambitious and practical\u201d. \u201cIt shows how Belfast Harbour can continue to grow as a competitive gateway to global markets and still be somewhere people are proud to live, work, study, or visit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">And she said it would be a \u201cliving document&#8221; which would respond to changing needs in the next 25 years, adding: \u201cThe draft is written for everyone who has a stake in Belfast Harbour, now or in the years ahead and the consultation process is designed to make sure every voice can be heard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">And eight week public consultation runs from now until mid-January. Details can be found at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.belfast-harbour.co.uk\/masterplan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.belfast-harbour.co.uk\/masterplan<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">Four temporary drop-in exhibitions will be held at venues across Belfast, supported by a display at Belfast Harbour Offices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It said the 2025-50 draft masterplan aims to improve its ability to drive trade, tourism, clean growth and&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":580470,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[2378,778,1144,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-580469","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-belfast","9":"tag-margaret-canning","10":"tag-northern-ireland","11":"tag-uk","12":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115576619342393210","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/580469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=580469"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/580469\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/580470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=580469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=580469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=580469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}