Our horizons
shaping the future
Our Draft Masterplan 2025-50 is structured around three Horizons: a near-term duration of five years, and two follow-on periods – each of a decade, each one building on the last to create a long-term vision for Belfast Harbour.
Horizon 1 focuses on our immediate priorities to strengthen the port and add new capacity. Horizons 2 and 3 capture our longer-term goals.
Horizon 1 – 2025-2029
Reflecting our 2025-29 Strategy ‘Advance Regional Prosperity’ this is focused on immediate priorities, including:
- Investing £313 million in the port and estate – more than two-thirds of this spend will be invested in the port.
- Our £90m dual-purpose deepwater quay (D3) to serve both cruise ships and the offshore wind industry.
- Increasing port capacity on land and at sea, by upgrading
port infrastructure, enhancing freight areas, and expanding land use for clean energy. - A proposed new Maritime Skills Academy.
- Developing City Quays 4 and 5 to add homes and commercial office space.
- Clarendon Wharf progressing through planning process, to extend regeneration along the waterfront.
- Progressing towards achieving our net zero goals by 2030.
Horizon 2 – 2030-2040
Building on Horizon 1, this represents a step-change investment, with projects that are larger in scale and ambition:
- Redevelopment of Stormont Wharf – to handle new trades and larger vessels.
- Victoria Terminal 3 extended and deepened to handle “Irish Max” vessels.
- Expanding logistics warehousing capacity at the port – to meet forecasted demand.
- Introducing shore power across key berths – helping reduce emissions.
- Stage 2 of dual-purpose deepwater quay to handle next generation offshore wind.
- Creating a new green corridor to connect existing nature areas.
- Continuing to open up land for city-facing regeneration.
Horizon 3 – 2040-2050
This will be focused on shaping the long-term future of Belfast Harbour and the city around it:
- Planning for a new terminal on the West Bank Road, to support forecasted long-term growth in container and trailer freight.
- Reclaiming land to provide new berths, storage areas, and transport links.
- Moving port activity further seaward – facilitating land closer to city for redevelopment and extending existing waterside neighbourhoods.
- Developing a Clean Energy Hub to provide for new fuels such as methanol, ammonia, hydrogen or advanced biofuels.
