Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) 2035
DfI are currently preparing a new suite of transport plans which will set the framework for making transport policy and investment decisions up until 2035. The Eastern Transport Plan (ETP) 2035, which replaces the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan 2015 (BMTP), is the largest of the Local Transport Plans as it covers five council areas and will also support the preparation of the Local Development Plans for these councils.
Introduction
The new ETP encompasses the following council areas:
- Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council (ANBC);
- Ards and North Down Borough Council (ANDBC);
- Belfast City Council (BCC);
- Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC); and
- Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (MEABC)
ETP 2035 aims to ensure that the transport network meets the needs of the people and businesses living, working and visiting the ETP area, both now and into the future.
The ETP area and each of the council boundaries are shown in the map.
Our approach
Transport planning practice is no longer focused on attempting to predict the future in terms of movement demands and providing the required new roads and public transport services. We are facing a very uncertain future where we need to make radical changes that address societal, economic and environmental problems related to our historical over reliance on cars. We are therefore taking a ‘vision and validate’ approach to the development of ETP 2035 to start re-balancing the transport network in favour of sustainable modes.
This proactive approach starts with an agreed vision of what we are trying to achieve and then checks if the future transport networks will assist in its delivery. The approach shifts the focus to creating places for people, built around a healthy, safe and carbon neutral vision for the future, through consideration of the following:
- The problems we need to solve based on the existing context, both in terms of wider challenges faced by society and also the specific transport challenges we face every day.
- The end goal we want to achieve, the Vision, which will be informed by the existing challenges and the way in which we aim to address them.
- How we will get there, the direction of which is determined by the objectives and guiding principles.
Context (the problems)
Whilst the need for transport arises from where we live and choose to go about day-to-day activities, transport infrastructure itself also shapes the current and future quality of our lives, environment and economy. In developing the ETP 2035 we therefore need to reflect on the wider challenges for transport whilst recognising the current shortcomings of the transport networks.
Wider societal challenges
We know that ETP 2035 needs to reflect upon and help to combat wider economic, social and environmental challenges for the area.
Our review of this wider context confirmed four key overarching themes, echoed throughout local, regional and national policy documents, to be reflected within ETP 2035. Transport has a clear role to play against each of these themes:
Tackle climate change |
|---|
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) recommends that we reduce the demand for less sustainable transport modes and therefore, we will continue to promote active travel and public transport to encourage a shift to more sustainable modes, while deprioritising single-occupancy car use.
(Source CCC Advice report: The path to a Net Zero Northern Ireland)
Protect the built and natural environment |
|---|
The construction of roads and railways can harm the built or natural environment. Many of our towns and cities have road infrastructure which dominates the built environment, while pollution from vehicles contributes to poor local air quality which in turn increases our risk of chronic illness
There are also many transport structures which add heritage and value to our environment. These should be retained and incorporated into future plans where possible.
Drive sustainable economic growth |
|---|
Ensuring that transport enables economic, housing and employment growth, whilst improving the environment, is a key priority for all five councils as well as DfI.
| Support healthy, safe and inclusive communities |
|---|
The Programme for Government 2024-2027 ‘Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most’- Documents details the Northern Ireland Executive’s nine immediate priorities which aim to bring a new focus to deliver lasting, real and positive change in people’s lives. Transport has a role to play in delivering against several of these priorities and is central to healthy, safe and inclusive communities.
ETP 2035 Vision and Objectives
The ETP 2035 Vision and Objectives were developed collaboratively with key stakeholders and were agreed and published in 2024 following public engagement. The Engagement Report together with a ‘Key Points’ document is available on the Supporting Documents page.
The Vision and Objectives, which represent ETP 2035’s aspirations, are provided below.
ETP 2035 Vision:
ETP 2035 Objectives:
To read about our objectives in more detail, please click here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A list of frequently asked questions about the new ETP is available via the link below.
Links to next steps, invitations to participate and timescales
At this stage we are continuing to develop the transport plan. ETP 2035 will be developed in a phased approach in alignment with the publication of each council’s draft Local Development Plan. The latest timescales for delivery of each council’s Local Development Plan are available on the respective council websites.
With Belfast City Council nearing completion on their draft Local Development Plan – Local Policies Plan, it is anticipated that the first phase of ETP 2035, which will outline proposals for Belfast City Centre and the wider Metropolitan Area, will be available in draft for public engagement in Spring 2026.