It comes after an Alliance motion was brought to council in 2023 recognising the role the city’s greenways have had in improving residents’ quality of life, and calling for such a study to look into possible connections to Adelaide Train Station, as well as the creation of a walking trail or shared cycle and pedestrian path if a full greenway wasn’t possible.

Cllr Brooks has said: “Having sufficient access to parks and green spaces throughout the city is absolutely essential in improving peoples’ quality of life and we’re extremely pleased to see this feasibility study going ahead.

“We’ve seen the great success and popularity of other greenways right across Belfast and want to extend those benefits to as many residents as possible. With these plans, we’re exploring the possibility of creating space for more active and sustainable transport in the area, strengthening the south-west greenway links, and re-instating access to the Blackstaff River, as well as just generally giving the community better access to our natural world.

“While this is still at an early stage of development, we’re engaging with and consulting a number of different of organisations including Sustrans, Translink, DfI, as well as local residents and businesses, in order to ensure everyone’s voice is heard and that we’re best serving the community at the heart of this project, and we will continue to do so.

“Alliance is committed to both improving the lives of everyone in Belfast and helping our environment in tandem, and we look forward to the outcome of this study.”