DerryBelfast

DerryBelfast is a term used in planning and cultural discourse to describe a proposed bi-city region linking Derry/Londonderry and Belfast in Northern Ireland. It is not an official administrative designation and has no statutory boundaries; rather, it represents a concept for coordinating economic development, transport, and cultural initiatives across the two cities.

Derry/Londonderry is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland by population and is located in the northwest, while Belfast is the capital and largest city, situated to the southeast. The cities are connected by major road and rail links and both play significant roles in the region’s economy. The DerryBelfast concept emphasizes leveraging the two cities’ combined strengths—Derry’s growing technology and manufacturing base and Belfast’s finance, services, education, and infrastructure—to create a more competitive urban area.

Governance for a bi-city framework would involve collaboration among local authorities, notably Derry City and Strabane District Council and Belfast City Council, along with regional bodies and the Northern Ireland Executive. There is no single legal framework that creates a bi-city authority under the DerryBelfast label.

Economic and cultural aims commonly associated with the concept include integrated transport planning (rail and road), joint tourism routes and cultural programming, coordinated economic development initiatives, and harmonized planning and procurement to attract investment. While the term reflects ongoing interest in cross-city cooperation, it remains a civic and planning concept rather than a formal administrative entity.