To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether the proposal for a link road from Belvoir to Cairnshill, as mentioned in the Belfast Area Metropolitan Plan, remains live or has been abandoned.

The proposed link road between Cairnshill, at the Park and Ride site, and Belvoir Road on the A55 Outer Ring, remains live. It is included in the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan as a future scheme and although development of it has not advanced, there are currently no plans to abandon it.

My Department is currently bringing forward a suite of new Transport Plans, including the new Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan (BMTP), which will take account of the growth ambitions of the local Councils within the Belfast Metropolitan Area’s catchment (BMA).

The BMTP will consider a range of future options to meet local and regional objectives. These will include improved active travel and public transport provision, and possible improvements to local roads. Amongst other measures the new BMTP will include the routes identified in the soon to be published Belfast Cycling Network.

The BMTP will be integrated with the formal Local Development Plan processes, and as such the timescales for the completion of the Draft Plan and its release for public consultation are still under review.

I am determined to use these Transport Plans to better connect our population and businesses in a sustainable way, and help power our Green Recovery.