Belfast Streets Ahead design team award a first for Northern Ireland

The 'Belfast Streets Ahead' design team was today awarded with a Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Award in the Excellence Category.

This project is the first team to get this award in Northern Ireland within the public and private sectors. The award highlights the team's achievement in maximising opportunities for the reduction of waste and sustainability of the project.

Welcoming the award, Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie MLA, said: “The vision for the public realm within the city centre was to regenerate it and create an area of unrivalled street scape for the capital city to be enjoyed by everyone.

“It has delivered this and has created an environment where people feel safe from traffic, crime and anti-social behaviour. I therefore welcome that the Belfast Streets Ahead team has received this prestigious award. It is a difficult award to win and a first for a Northern Ireland construction project. I offer my congratulations to the Client and Design Team.”

At a Symposium entitled, ‘Raising Sustainability Expectations’, sponsored by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure at Stranmillis University College, Belfast, Ian Nicholson CEEQUAL’s UK Technical Director presented the team with the excellence award.

Excellence was received in the following categories;

1. Reduction of the energy requirements of the completed scheme. Reducing the energy requirements of the completed scheme by introducing efficient street lighting that can be monitored remotely, therefore reducing the number of manual inspections required and the facility to reduce power use during off-peak periods.
2. Reducing future maintenance requirements through good design, layout ,detailing and choice of material, agreeing management and maintenance methodology.
3. Materials selected for durability with high quality materials with a long design life;
4. Minimising off-site disposals to landfill; and
5. Increasing the recycling content of materials used for the project.

Notes to editors:

1. DSD is investing £28million in the Belfast Streets Ahead programme of work. Thirteen streets will be renewed and completed by 2011.
2. This award covers the following streets: Arthur Square; Ann Street; Cornmarket; Arthur Place; Arthur Street; Castle Lane; Callender Street; Fountain Street; College Street; Queens Street; Fountain Lane and Castle Street.
3. Media Enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07669 715 440 and your call will be returned.