Department for Infrastructure sets out 140km active travel pipeline for Northern Ireland's towns

The Department for Infrastructure has published its Everyday Active Travel Urban Delivery Plan, identifying more than 140km of priority walking, wheeling and cycling routes to be built across Northern Ireland's urban areas over the next 10 years.

The department said the priority routes would connect more than 280,000 people to everyday destinations. Beyond that programme, the plan identifies almost 1,000km of further corridors for future delivery.

The plan was published on 9 November 2026. A Section 75 equality screening form for the plan followed on 12 November, recording that the screening was carried out on 28 September 2026 and that a full Equality Impact Assessment was not recommended.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins set out the plan, which the department said is intended to make walking, wheeling and cycling the easiest choice for shorter urban journeys. She said: "Public engagement has played a significant role in shaping this Plan."

The plan

According to the department, the plan complements the Belfast Cycling Network Delivery Plan and the Strategic Plan for Greenways. The main document has been published alongside 10 appendices, and an interactive version is available from the department's publication page.

Kimmins said consultation had shown strong support for prioritising connections to schools, town centres and public transport. She said: "By investing in cleaner and greener transport options, we can create healthier, safer, and more vibrant communities."

Although the plan covers urban settlements, the Minister said she was also committed to improving active travel in rural areas and would ensure a fair allocation of active travel funding went to pedestrian enhancements for rural communities.

Earlier consultation

The department consulted on a draft Active Travel Delivery Plan between 13 November 2024 and 28 February 2025. The department describes that as a 15-week exercise, and published a consultation report on 30 April 2026 giving a high-level analysis of responses.

The consultation was launched by the then Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd. The draft proposed over 200km of active travel infrastructure, with delivery plans identified for 42 settlements across 10 council areas. The urban plan published this week describes its network as over 140km of priority routes plus almost 1,000km of additional corridors.

In its consultation material the department said over one third of journeys in Northern Ireland are under two miles and two thirds are under five miles. It also cited the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, which it said set a minimum 10% of overall transport budgets to be spent on active travel and underscored the role of active travel in meeting climate goals.

Signature schemes

Separately, the department is progressing six signature active travel schemes with a combined length of 40km. The department said at the November 2024 consultation launch that it had commissioned the design of the six projects.

They are Sydenham Greenway, Maydown to Campsie, the Black Paths extension to Portadown railway station, Newry Inner City Greenway, Bellarena to Bishop's Gate, and Coleraine to Portstewart.

In an update published on 13 January 2026, the department said initial public engagement on the six schemes was expected within the following 12 to 18 months.