{$inpagemarkup}

Search News

Results: 1-10 of 575


Independent retailers warn Spring Statement missed opportunity as geopolitical tensions threaten high street recovery

5 Mar 2026

ACT parent company Bira has warned that the Chanellor's Spring Statement offered no new support for high street businesses, as rising tensions in the Middle East threaten to push up energy... Read more…

Scottish bike shop and cafe expands into bigger premises as council recognises 'positive impact on economy'

3 Mar 2026

A Scottish bike repair shop and cafe has recently moved premises into a bigger unit thanks to a growth in business, with the local council noting the positive impact it would have on the local... Read more…

Local Bike Shop Week returns this May, with independent retailers reporting strong benefits from past events

19 Feb 2026

Local Bike Shop Week is approaching, with this year’s celebrations taking place from Sunday 3 May to Saturday 9 May 2026 - and retailers have highlighted the positive experiences they've... Read more…

Independent bike shops unite for inaugural Local Bike Shop Week celebration

17 Feb 2026

A week to celebrate and highlight the expertise and passion of independent bike shops across the UK is set to be held this May.
Read more…

ACT part of coalition letter calling for consultation on online VAT reform

16 Feb 2026

A 18-strong coalition of business organisations and tax experts, including the ACT and led-by its parent company Bira, has today written to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury calling for a... Read more…

Government's pub-only business rates package is "poor decision based on politics", ACT parent company Bira says

29 Jan 2026

The government's decision to give pubs a 15% business rates discount while excluding independent retailers is a "poor decision based on politics rather than what is good for the local economy",... Read more…

Independent retailers demand equal treatment as Government prepares pub rates relief

9 Jan 2026

ACT parent company Bira has has demanded equal treatment for small shops after the government announced plans to water down business rate rises for pubs.
Read more…

Christmas and New Year message from ACT Director Jonathan Harrison

23 Dec 2025

An end of year message from Jonathan Harrison, Director of the ACT.
Read more…

Scottish Government urged to cut business rates for indie retailers

11 Dec 2025

ACT parent company Bira has called on the Scottish Government to follow Wales's example and introduce genuine business rates reductions for retail premises ahead of the Scottish Budget on 13... Read more…

Independent retailers to see rates bills soar by up to 15% despite government's "transformation" promises

2 Dec 2025

Independent retailers across the UK are facing business rates increases of up to 15% next year despite government promises of the "lowest tax rates since 1991", ACT parent company Bira has... Read more…

Back to news menu

Grants of £30K available to create up to eight secure cycle storage facilities across Belfast

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

Belfast City Council is seeking expressions of interest to provide publicly accessible secure cycle storage facilities across the city.

The Council, which successfully opened the city’s first ever secure cycle park last month in partnership with CastleCourt Shopping Centre, is now keen to create additional facilities, thanks to funding provided by the Department for Infrastructure.

Chair of Belfast City Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee, Councillor Ryan Murphy said: “This investment is part of our Bolder Vision, which is all about creating a more attractive, accessible, safer, and more vibrant city.

“As we’ve shown with the recent launch of our Active Travel Hub at Cathedral Gardens, The Bike Yard at CastleCourt and covered cycle parking at various locations throughout the city, we’re keen to prioritise walking and wheeling in Belfast - creating lively, safe, and green streets and removing barriers to movement between the city centre and surrounding communities. Providing these additional secure cycle parking facilities is another small, but important step to encouraging people to move away from relying on their cars to get around.

“Potential sites for these new secure cycle storage facilities could include surface car parks, multi-storey car parks or existing retail units. But we’re not limiting proposals to those types of locations – operators could also repurpose vacant units in the city and bring them back into use.”

Operators keen to deliver and maintain safe, secure, and accessible cycle parking at sites outside Belfast city centre, but within the Belfast City Council boundary are being invited to submit an expression of interest before 4pm on 21 November

Belfast City Centre

To receive an information pack and response form, email belfasti@belfastcity.gov.uk Applications should include a comprehensive outline of the proposed operating model and details of how the site will cater for a wide range of cycles.
Successful operators will be responsible for delivering a self-sustaining operating model for ongoing use of the site, providing access, adequate security and managing users and finances, customer service and regular site maintenance and cleansing.

Capital support up to a maximum of £30,000 may be available to develop physical infrastructure at each location and storage facilities must be delivered by March 2023.

For more information, go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/activetravel

Back to news menu

Useful links

If you have any other queries please contact us.