When Theresa May called a snap election on 18 May no one would have imaged, let alone predicted, the surreal outcome of a Conservative Government propped up by the support of the DUP. But this unintended consequence, as unpalatable as it is for some, and for as long as it lasts, presents a real opportunity for cities in Northern Ireland.

The troubles in the province are well documented. They have left their scars on all sides of the community, which continue to impede the social and economic prospects of generations long after the Good Friday agreement. The peace process has returned some sense of normality and accompanying investment but the period following the global economic downturn has had a significant impact on a population that was already experiencing severe exclusion from the job market and deep-rooted welfare dependency.