The UK government has announced that every council in Northern Ireland will receive funding to enhance green spaces in their communities. This funding, totaling over £1.3 million, will be used to support 26 projects that will include planting new trees, expanding cycle paths and trails, improving play parks, and developing a new King’s Garden to commemorate the coronation of King Charles later this year.
This investment is part of Northern Ireland’s £127 million share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which aims to deliver tangible improvements for local people and create positive impacts on local growth, pride in place, and life chances. This year and next, the funding will give councils the ability to expand their plans to level up and bring in extra investments in local green spaces.
Several projects will be given match funding by councils and support from Northern Ireland Executive Departments. Additionally, the UK Government announced that it will work with councils and their local partners to allocate approximately £13.8 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund over the next two years, through a mix of community and neighborhood infrastructure areas of Northern Ireland to be reformed. Green space development, active travel promotion, and local arts and cultural activities, are all supported voluntarily by the local community.
Leveling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said that it is important for people to take pride in the place they live and have easy access to more green spaces like gardens, play parks, cycle paths, and forests. She added that the funding will visibly improve community facilities for everyone, and she pays tribute to the councils and communities for the imagination and breadth of their ideas.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris also highlighted the importance of green spaces in communities and praised the investment in community infrastructure. He noted that this UKSPF funding will contribute to more than 20km of new or improved cycleways or footpaths and support 8,145m² of new or improved green or blue space this year, which will have significant health and wellbeing benefits as well as improving the local environment.
This funding for green spaces in Northern Ireland will support the development of more accessible, sustainable, and attractive communities, with benefits that will be enjoyed by residents for years to come.
Source: Gov[Dot]UK
