Consultation launched on Belfast’s 'undiscovered historic site'

The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, today published for consultation, a draft Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) on the regeneration of Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood Park.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said: “I am pleased to publish for consultation a draft EQIA on the Crumlin Road Gaol/Girdwood Park area. This has been completed in consultation with a wide range of representative groups and the communities across North Belfast. The draft EQIA makes a number of proposals on how this tremendous site can be developed as a shared future space. I would encourage everyone interested to respond to the findings, as I know there are strongly held views on every side.”

“This is a wonderful development site. It has the historic asset of Crumlin Road Gaol at one end and the 20 acre Girdwood site at the other. It is hard to believe that a site of this scale with such potential exists less than a mile from Belfast City Centre.”

“I wish to see the regeneration of the area contributing to the creation of a vibrant shared space where all communities can live, work and socialise. It is with this vision in mind that I announced that the Department will be undertaking a full Equality Impact Assessment. I want as many people as possible to have their say”

The draft EQIA consultation period will run from 30 October 2008 until 21 January 2009. Copies of the draft EQIA consultation document can be obtained from the Department for Social Development, North Belfast Community Action Unit, Enterprise House, 55-59 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8FE; Tel: 028 9072 6014; Fax: 028 9072 6102.

The consultation will also include a number of public meetings.

The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie announced her intention to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment in February 2008.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Crumlin Road Gaol was transferred to OFM/DFM in August 2003 under the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative. The site of the former Girdwood Army Barracks was transferred to DSD in April 2006.

2. The two sites comprise some 27 acres providing a unique opportunity to regenerate one of the most disadvantaged parts of Belfast.

3. The combined site has been subject to a Master planning process in line with the site’s zoning under the draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP).

4. In March 2006, an Advisory Panel was established comprising political, community and statutory representatives with the task of overseeing production of the Master plan and making Panel recommendations to the Minister on the agreed plan. The Panel was chaired by Roy Adams, OBE. Mr. Adams is internationally respected for his work in urban planning and regeneration.

5. A draft Master plan containing the proposals for the regeneration of the site was published for consultation on 16 October 2007; the consultation period finished on 20 January 2008.

6. Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 places a statutory requirement on public authorities that in carrying out their functions, they will have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity:

• between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation;
• between men and women generally;
• between persons with a disability and persons without; and
• between persons with dependants and persons without.

In addition, without prejudice to the above obligations, public authorities must have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.

7. In February 2008 the Minister for Social Development announced her intention to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment on the outline proposals for the site. The primary function of an Equality impact Assessment is to determine the extent of differential impact upon the groups referred to in 6 above and in turn whether that impact is adverse.

8. In light of this assessment, if it is found that the policy (in this case the proposals for the regeneration of the site) has an adverse impact, the public authority must consider alternative policies which might better achieve promotion of opportunity or measures which might be used to mitigate adverse impact.

9. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.