Belfast is developing a scalable Net Zero Neighbourhood Framework centred on active travel, greening, and retrofit initiatives. Initially launched in the Linen Quarter, the project now addresses broader urban challenges across the southern city centre.
The UP2030 Belfast pilot centres on the creation of a Net Zero Neighbourhood Framework (NZNF), a blueprint for sustainable, inclusive urban regeneration aligned with the UP2030 pillars: carbon neutrality, resilience, and a just transition. The framework is rooted in the Linen Quarter and adjacent areas, extending to established communities like the Market, Donegall Pass, Sandy Row, and Barracks Street. It takes a place-based approach that accounts for Belfast's complex social fabric, post-conflict dynamics, and environmental challenges, such as air pollution, flooding, and poor public space provision.
Originally focused on greening and play areas, traffic mitigation, and parking reduction, the prototype has evolved to incorporate wide-reaching interventions and tools that can scale city-wide. The final NZNF will provide practical guidance, visual resources, and replicable toolkits to support urban planners, policymakers, and communities.
The updated Community Plan, “The Belfast Agenda”, integrates these actionable solutions, reinforcing the commitment to climate-led urban regeneration.
Urban practitioners, decision-makers, elected representatives, local communities, regional partners, and anyone working toward climate-led regeneration.
Impact and Long Term Vision
The NZNF aims to enable Belfast to become a leading example of urban climate action. Through initiatives like the Safe Routes to School campaign, a retrofit design challenge, and carbon modelling tools, the city is generating transferrable insights. The Belfast Agenda, Resilience Strategy, and Climate Ambitions documents are embedded within the NZNF, ensuring alignment with the city’s long-term strategy.
Developed the "Safe Routes, Healthy Places" toolkit and materials for active travel initiatives such as the Walking Bus.
Created Community Maps and provided stakeholder engagement tools.
Delivered a carbon accounting methodology for urban regeneration, estimating emission reductions from greening, retrofit, and mobility improvements.
Advancing Neutrality Story Maps, a multimedia tool for community storytelling and scenario planning to support participatory decision-making.
Advancing Neutrality Story Maps, a multimedia tool for community storytelling and scenario planning to support participatory decision-making.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. This project has received funding from the Horizon Innovation Actions under the grant agreement n° 101096405.