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31/07/2009
Vacant City Development Space In Focus
Space for 20,000 new Belfast homes is currently laying vacant and in public ownership, according to a city think tank.
More than two square kilometres of land in Belfast could be used to regenerate and reconnect communities within the inner and central city, the newly-launched Forum for an Alternative Belfast has claimed.
The forum - established to create a strong vision for a new capital city - says the land is still lying idle after more than a decade of a construction boom.
"Years of bad or mediocre redevelopment have continued to isolate large swathes of the city, creating ugly dead facades and leaving it largely empty at night," said Belfast Forum co-director Mark Hackett.
"It's hard to believe that an area the size of 500 football pitches is not being more productively used given that it is all located within a two kilometre walk of the city centre."
He said: "Our preliminary study indicates in excess of 20,000 extra people would comfortably be housed in the fractured inner city.
"With that comes the challenge of making new schools, parks and connecting with existing communities in an equitable manner – and doing so with development of enduring built quality."
Next month, the forum is bringing more than 70 of Belfast's leading architects, engineers, urban planners, arts experts, community leaders together in a four-day 'summer school' to develop workable ideas to transform the city.
"The five-day 'think tank' will examine what would happen if we stopped leaving the development of our city to chance and instead started to plan a common vision for how we see ourselves in 2020. We want everyone to take part in the wider discussions," Mr Hackett added.
(PR/KMcA)
More than two square kilometres of land in Belfast could be used to regenerate and reconnect communities within the inner and central city, the newly-launched Forum for an Alternative Belfast has claimed.
The forum - established to create a strong vision for a new capital city - says the land is still lying idle after more than a decade of a construction boom.
"Years of bad or mediocre redevelopment have continued to isolate large swathes of the city, creating ugly dead facades and leaving it largely empty at night," said Belfast Forum co-director Mark Hackett.
"It's hard to believe that an area the size of 500 football pitches is not being more productively used given that it is all located within a two kilometre walk of the city centre."
He said: "Our preliminary study indicates in excess of 20,000 extra people would comfortably be housed in the fractured inner city.
"With that comes the challenge of making new schools, parks and connecting with existing communities in an equitable manner – and doing so with development of enduring built quality."
Next month, the forum is bringing more than 70 of Belfast's leading architects, engineers, urban planners, arts experts, community leaders together in a four-day 'summer school' to develop workable ideas to transform the city.
"The five-day 'think tank' will examine what would happen if we stopped leaving the development of our city to chance and instead started to plan a common vision for how we see ourselves in 2020. We want everyone to take part in the wider discussions," Mr Hackett added.
(PR/KMcA)
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NIO Minister Des Browne has today announced the start of a review of Belfast city's regeneration policy following the adoption of the Victoria Square Development Scheme last month. The GB-based consultancy, G V A Grimley, has been engaged to conduct the research and is expected to report to the Department by the end of April.
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14 May 2010
Marathon To Run On Bank Holiday
In spite of pressure from various sides, the 2011 Belfast City Marathon will not be held on a Sunday. It was agreed at a City Council meeting this week that it would continue on May Day, after over plans to move the race from its traditional May Day Bank Holiday to the prior Sunday were opposed.
Marathon To Run On Bank Holiday
In spite of pressure from various sides, the 2011 Belfast City Marathon will not be held on a Sunday. It was agreed at a City Council meeting this week that it would continue on May Day, after over plans to move the race from its traditional May Day Bank Holiday to the prior Sunday were opposed.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A fine end to the day with some evening sunshine. It remains mainly dry overnight with a touch of frost or fog patches possible in places. However, cloud is expected to increase towards dawn with the odd light shower. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
