Plans For Residents’ Parking Schemes

In March 2026, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins announced that a new application process for residents’ parking schemes would open in April 2026, providing a demand led pathway for residents to bring forward requests for consideration. This initial application timeline closes at the end of July. The Minster has already committed that her Department will give consideration to a scheme that could address the emerging on-street parking pressures in the vicinity of the Ulster University campus in Belfast. As such, no initial application for any scheme around Lancaster street area is required by end July.

It may, however, be useful to consider if a residents’ parking scheme would be welcomed in the area and some helpful links and information below may assist in that consideration. 

Ulster University is happy to offer a space for consulting and engagement sessions between residents and the DFI in order to answer questions and progress the discussion.

What is a residents’ parking scheme?

A residents’ parking zone is an area where only vehicles with a valid permit or parking ticket are allowed to park during certain times of the day. A residents’ parking zone aims to give people in residential areas the chance to park closer to their homes or businesses.

A residents’ parking scheme does not guarantee residents a specific space outside their homes or businesses. The aim of a residents’ parking zone is to improve the overall availability of parking within an area so residents can park close to their houses. The initial focus on any first round of a scheme is on these who have no access to off road parking. These residents with access to off road parking, would be considered in a second round of the scheme.

51% of the area in questions has to support the scheme for it to progress. Only one application can be made every 5 years.  Residents are entitled to one permit per household, which allows them to park in spaces available within the zone.

If you live in the residents' parking zone area, you can apply for a resident permit, which costs £30 per year (Blue Badge holders can access free permits). However this area may have access to permits free of charge due to its location within a Neighbourhood Renewal Area.

Full details can be found via the below links.

Residents Parking Zones – FAQs | Department for Infrastructure

Irish Government Provides €400,000 Boost for Sailortown Bridge Project

Plans for Belfast's proposed Sailortown Bridge have received a significant boost after the Irish Government announced €400,000 in new funding through its Shared Island Fund.

The funding will support the next stage of design work for the landmark pedestrian and cycling swing bridge, which will span the River Lagan, linking the historic Sailortown area with Titanic Quarter and providing improved access to York Street Train Station. The project is expected to strengthen connections between North and East Belfast while encouraging active travel and supporting waterfront regeneration.

The investment forms part of an €800,000 package shared equally between Belfast and Cork to advance priority docklands bridge projects in both cities. Belfast's Sailortown Bridge and Cork's Kent Station Bridge will now continue to be developed through a partnership between the two city councils.

In May 2025, Belfast City Council confirmed it would act as the contracting authority for the project, overseeing procurement and project management.

However, he also stressed that the Department for Infrastructure must commit the funding needed to see the project through to completion, warning against delays caused by future funding uncertainty.

Belfast City Council also welcomed the announcement, describing the proposed bridge as a key element of its A Bolder Vision strategy. The council said the project would help connect communities, improve active travel and support regeneration along the waterfront.

The council confirmed it will continue working with the Department for Infrastructure, Belfast Harbour and the Shared Island team to progress the design phase, building on the £300,000 already provided by DfI for early design work.

Belfast Unveils Major Transport Plan for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026

Belfast City Council has announced an extensive transport and traffic management plan ahead of this summer’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which is expected to attract around 800,000 visitors to the city from 2nd to the 9th August.

Developed in partnership with Translink, the Department for Infrastructure and the PSNI, the plan includes the pedestrianisation of Belfast city centre to create a safe and welcoming festival zone for what will be the first time the world’s largest celebration of Irish music and culture is hosted in Belfast.

Residents, commuters and visitors are being urged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and avoid driving into the city centre during the eight-day event. Instead, organisers are encouraging the use of public transport, walking and cycling.

To help manage visitor numbers, three dedicated Park and Ride facilities will operate at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Giant’s Park and Belfast Harbour. A free shuttle bus service will connect these sites with key city centre transport hubs. Pre-booking for Park and Ride spaces opens on 6 July.

Translink will maintain normal Metro, Glider and Ulsterbus services, while NI Railways will introduce enhanced capacity and revised timetables to accommodate increased demand.

Special arrangements have also been introduced for city centre businesses, including overnight delivery windows and a dedicated Accreditation and Logistics Hub to support operations throughout the event.

The PSNI has confirmed an increased policing presence across Belfast, while the Department for Infrastructure will implement road closures, temporary traffic restrictions and real-time traffic monitoring to minimise disruption.

Further travel information, including Park and Ride bookings, shuttle bus schedules and transport updates, is available through the official Fleadh and Translink websites.

Belfast Learning Festival Returns This June

Residents across Belfast are being invited to discover new skills, explore fresh interests, and connect with their communities as the Belfast Learning Festival returns from 8–14 June 2026.

Now in its ninth year, the week-long festival will feature hundreds of free events, workshops, talks, demonstrations, performances, and learning experiences taking place at venues across the city. Activities are open to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, highlighting Belfast's commitment as a UNESCO City of Learning.

From creative arts and digital skills to health, wellbeing, languages, history, music, and practical crafts, the festival offers opportunities for everyone to learn something new, develop existing talents, or simply try an activity for the first time. Events will be hosted in community centres, libraries, museums, colleges, parks, and cultural venues throughout Belfast.

Organised by Belfast City Council and its learning partners, the festival celebrates lifelong learning and the positive impact it has on individuals, communities, and the city's future growth. All events are free to attend, although some may require advance booking.

For the full programme and event details, visit the Belfast Learning Festival website and discover how learning can happen anywhere, at any stage of life.

Overnight Maintenance Works Continue on A12 Westlink

Residents living near the A12 Westlink are being advised that essential overnight maintenance works are currently underway as part of an ongoing road infrastructure improvement programme.

The A12 Westlink forms part of the Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) Package 1 contract and is operated and maintained on behalf of the Department by Highway Management (City) Ltd and its operating partner, Intertoll.

The works involve the renewal of sections of the vehicle restraint system along the A12 Westlink. Construction activity began on the 18th of May and is expected to continue for approximately eight weeks.

To minimise disruption to daytime traffic, the works are being carried out during overnight hours between 11.00pm and 6.00am on weekday nights.

Due to the nature of the maintenance activities, some noise may be experienced by nearby residents. However, contractors have confirmed that every effort is being made to keep noise levels to a minimum while ensuring the work is completed safely and efficiently.

The improvement works are considered essential to maintain road safety standards and the long-term reliability of this key transport route through Belfast.

For more information: https://aecom.com/projects/dbfo1-futureproofing-belfasts-strategic-highway-network

Castlebrooke Investments – North Street-Donegall Street PAN Submission 

Please find herewith a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) submitted to Belfast City Council in relation to emerging regeneration proposals for the North Street-Donegall Street area of Belfast city centre.

Castlebrooke Investments is bringing forward the proposals as part of its vision to regenerate this historically significant part of Belfast city centre and create a new mixed-use neighbourhood focused on long-term city living.

The submission of a PAN marks the beginning of the formal pre-application consultation process ahead of a future planning application and provides an opportunity for local communities, stakeholders and elected representatives to engage with the project team as the proposals continue to evolve. 

The vision for North Street-Donegall Street is to create a new mixed-use neighbourhood in the heart of Belfast city centre, delivering around 1,000 new homes- including social and affordable accommodation, two 4-star hotels and up to 100,000 sq ft of mixed commercial and community space, including shops, restaurants, cafes and services.

The proposals seek to create a vibrant and sustainable city centre community for a range of demographics while carefully respecting the area’s historic character and heritage significance. They include the creation of new streets, alleyways, and the revitalisation of Writer’s Square. The proposals also align with Belfast City Council’s wider ambitions for city centre living as set out in the Belfast Agenda Strategy and broader regeneration plans.

As part of the consultation process, public consultation events will take place on Tuesday 30 June from 2-8pm and Wednesday 1 July from 11am-6pm at the Masonic Hall on Rosemary Street, where interested parties will be able to view and comment on the proposals prior to the submission of any planning application. A dedicated project holding page is now available to register interest at www.northst-donegallst.co.uk and from 30 June this website will be updated to display the consultation materials.

Read or Download the (PAN) Application Form PDF at: View/ Download PDF

Residents’ Parking Zones

The application window for residents’ parking zones is now open and will run from 28 April 2026 until 31 July 2026. Residents’ parking zones are designed to help people living in residential areas park closer to their homes or businesses by restricting parking during certain times of the day to vehicles displaying a valid permit or parking ticket.

Residents and businesses within a designated zone can apply for permits allowing them to park within that area during the zone’s hours of operation. In most cases, households are entitled to one parking permit, although this may depend on the amount of available parking space within the zone. Properties with private off-street parking, such as driveways, may not qualify for a permit. A permit allows parking within the zone but does not guarantee a specific parking space or a space directly outside a property.

Residents’ parking zones will also include pay and display parking for motorists without a valid permit during operational hours.

To qualify for consideration, an area must experience ongoing commuter or nuisance parking, consist entirely of adopted roads, and have fewer than 50 per cent of properties with access to off-street parking. In addition, a majority of residents and businesses within the proposed area must support the introduction of a residents’ parking zone.

Applications for a residents’ parking zone can only be submitted during the designated application period. Applicants will be required to outline the parking issues affecting their area and provide evidence of local support for the proposed scheme. Applications received after 31 July 2026 will not be considered and must be resubmitted when the next application window opens.

Applications that do not meet the eligibility requirements will be unsuccessful, and applicants will be informed of the reasons why. If an application is unsuccessful, a further application cannot normally be made for five years unless there has been a significant change in circumstances.

More information: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/residents-parking-zones

Little York Street Consultation

A public consultation relating to proposed Traffic Regulation Orders for Little York Street and Little Patrick Street is now live and can be viewed on the Department for Infrastructure website.

The consultation includes four separate orders covering waiting restrictions, loading bays, a one-way system and traffic calming measures. The consultation period for the loading bays, waiting restrictions and one-way system proposals will close on 18 June at 5pm, while the consultation on the traffic calming measures will remain open until 29 June at 5pm.