Lenadoon Building Successful Communities Forum Launched

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has launched the Lenadoon Building Successful Communities Forum.

Building Successful Communities aims to use housing intervention as one of the main catalysts for local regeneration.

Six areas were identified as meeting the criteria to pilot the initiative. They are Lower Falls, Lower Shankill and Browns Square, Lower Oldpark, Tigers Bay/Mountcollyer and Lenadoon in Belfast, and Doury Road in Ballymena.

The Minister also welcomed the establishment of Fora in Doury Road, Ballymena and Lower Falls.

The membership of the Fora is drawn from the statutory, voluntary and community sectors. Each Forum will discuss and agree specific economic, physical and social interventions for consideration by the Minister.

Speaking ahead of addressing the Forum in Lenadoon, Minister McCausland said: "I welcome the opportunity to launch the Lenadoon Building Successful Communities Forum. I am also pleased to announce that the Doury Road and Lower Falls Fora will be launched shortly with work continuing to establish the remaining three Fora.

"Building Successful Communities is a new housing led programme aimed at regenerating communities which have sadly been allowed to decline and become blighted by vacant and derelict properties, undeveloped land and poor infrastructure.

"Whatever government strategies have been in place up to now, and there are a multitude of agencies no doubt all doing their best to make a difference, these strategies, taken in isolation, are failing in many communities.

"I am determined to test a more joined up and community centred approach here, and in the other pilot areas, with the aim of providing better homes, better places to live, better places to work and better opportunities for everyone.

"I have seen first hand a number of housing led regeneration schemes which have turned around areas which were in decline, so I know this approach can work."

The new initiative is part of the Minister's 'Facing the Future - Housing Strategy for Northern Ireland'. Work in the areas will involve concerted social, economic and physical interventions by the Department for Social Development's Housing and Urban Regeneration Directorates together with support from the Housing Executive, Housing Associations, local communities and key statutory and voluntary agencies to develop solutions that will reverse decline and create more sustainable communities."

The Minister concluded: "The work ahead of each local Forum will be a vital aspect in transforming and developing their area and in building a successful community. I wish them well and look forward to receiving their findings and recommendations."

(MH/JP)