Summary
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) is seeking initial views as part of an early engagement exercise for the Coleraine to Portstewart Active Travel Signature Scheme.
Documents
- Coleraine to Portstewart Active Travel Signature Scheme - Early Engagement Digital Flyer
- Coleraine to Portstewart Active Travel Signature Scheme - Early Engagement FAQs
- Map of study area
Consultation description
One of six Signature Active Travel Schemes being progressed across Northern Ireland as part of the wider Northern Ireland Active Travel Delivery Plan.
The project team are exploring options to improve walking, wheeling and cycling connections within a defined study area between Coleraine and Portstewart, helping to create better connected places and safe, high-quality active travel infrastructure for everyday journeys.
The scheme aims to:
- Make it easier to walk, wheel and cycle between Portstewart, Coleraine, including the Ulster University campus by improving active travel connections
- Provide opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of residents by supporting more sustainable travel choices
- Support economic growth in Coleraine and Portstewart by creating better connections for pedestrians and cyclists between the towns
- Encourage more sustainable travel choices, helping reduce the environmental impact of transport and supporting the commitments of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 to increase investment in active travel
- Better connect people to local attractions, public transport and wider walking and cycling networks
- Support safer journeys for pedestrians and cyclists.
A defined study area has been identified, and we are seeking feedback to better understand existing travel patterns and behaviours to help inform the development and appraisal of future route options.
Feedback received will help shape the next stage of the scheme.
About the scheme
This scheme aims to create a potential active travel route within a defined study area between Coleraine and Portstewart, helping people travel more easily by walking, wheeling and cycling between the two towns, Ulster University, local services and the coast.
A key scheme objective includes connectivity to existing active travel infrastructure to provide a more integrated network where possible including to, for example, the existing path network along the Cromore Road. These connections could help create a more joined-up active travel network across the area and address an important missing link between Coleraine, Ulster University and Portstewart.
At this point in the Project, the focus is on understanding how people currently travel through the study area, the barriers to active travel, and opportunities to improve active travel. A map of the study area is provided for context.
The scheme forms part of DfI’s wider vision to create safer, more accessible and better-connected places for walking, wheeling and cycling across Northern Ireland through its People, Places and Provision approach - enabling more people to choose active travel by improving connections to local places that are important to them through the provision of safe, high-quality, inclusive infrastructure.
The scheme is intended to support people of all ages and abilities to walk, wheel or cycle to work, education, shopping and leisure, helping to make active travel the easiest and most enjoyable choice for shorter everyday journeys.
Feedback gathered during this early engagement will help shape the next phase of the project, including the development of potential route options. All feedback received will be carefully considered as the scheme develops.
Project timeline
The scheme is expected to take around five years to deliver. This includes design, assessment and approvals, followed by construction. The design phase began in Autumn 2025. Subject to approvals and funding, construction could begin in 2028, with completion by 2030.
| Stage | Indicative timing |
|---|---|
| Design and feasibility commenced | 2025 |
| Early engagement (current stage) | Spring / Summer 2026 |
| Option development, non-statutory public consultation and assessment | 2026 / 2027 |
| Public consultation and statutory processes | 2027 onwards |
| Procurement and construction anticipated to commence | From 2028, subject to approvals and funding |
| Target completion | By 2030 |
Your privacy
The information you provide in your response, excluding personal information, may be published or disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) or the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential, please tell us why, but be aware that, under the FOIA, we cannot guarantee confidentiality.
For information regarding the Departmental Privacy Notice, following the introduction of GDPR please go to: DfI Privacy.
Ways to respond
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