Speaking at the launch of the ‘Belfast: Streets Ahead’ programme, the Minister said: “This programme will transform fourteen of Belfast’s main streets and public spaces. When the work is completed in 2009 the City Centre will be a more attractive place for the thousands of people who live and work there or who come to shop or be entertained.
”Making the city centre more welcoming will not only help to retain existing jobs and attract new businesses but also encourage more City Centre residential development.
“Belfast has much to offer the visitor and my aim is to encourage local people and visitors alike to spend time in the heart of the city. We will do this by insisting on good quality design, and by encouraging clean, safe and friendly streets and a good feeling about our City Centre.
“My ultimate goal is to take Belfast City Centre to the top of the European league of premier regional European cities, by making it a place where people want to come and spend time. We can do this by working together and by ensuring that we put the citizen at the heart of the programme.”
The Minister also revealed that an important element of the ‘Belfast: Streets Ahead’ programme will be some new art works.
“Good examples of public art can add interest and focus to our streets and give people a pride in their city. Belfast already has some good examples of public art such as the sculpture at Thanksgiving Square at Laganside.
“To complement our new streets, I intend to invest £500,000 in commissioning a number of new artworks. Later this year, local people will have an opportunity to vote for a new centrepiece for Arthur Square, one of the main public spaces in Belfast.”
The Minister said that such an ambitious programme of work would inevitably mean some disruption but that this would be kept to a minimum and that access will be maintained to all business premises.
She added: “Information leaflets, a telephone helpline and dedicated website will be available to provide information to the public and business people,” she said.
Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Jim Rodgers, speaking at the launch said: "This programme will benefit and complement Belfast City Council's longer term initiatives for the evening economy, tourism, retail and the linking of the city centre to the surrounding inner city areas.
"We are excited by the opportunity of working in partnership with the Department for Social Development to bring forward proposals to enhance the environment of our city centre."
Welcoming the ‘Belfast: Streets Ahead’ programme, Dave Pennick, President of Belfast Chamber Trade and Commerce said: “This new programme will help traders by encouraging many more tourists to come to Belfast. When completed the new streetscapes will add to the distinctiveness of Belfast and encourage visitors to explore the city’s historical and cultural areas and, of course, to sample the shopping experience that Belfast has to offer.”
Eamonn Sweeney, Managing Director of Farrans Construction Ltd, the contractor for the project said: “This is a visionary programme and is very exciting for Belfast. It will provide its own challenges for Farrans Construction. We will keep local businesses and traders fully informed of our works programme and will aim to minimise disruption and inconvenience.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- In 2004 DSD published its ‘Belfast City Centre Public Realm Improvement Strategy’ which sets out the vision and approach to renewing the public streets and spaces in Belfast City Centre. In 2005, DSD appointed EDAW as landscape and urban design consultants to take forward the strategy. EDAW has been involved in renewing city centres such as Liverpool, Manchester and Barcelona.
- In 2006 DSD published an Action Plan setting out the way forward for the Strategy. ‘Belfast: Streets Ahead’ is a phased approach to the renewal work. The Action Plan has been taken forward by a steering group comprised of DSD, Belfast City Council, Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Belfast City Centre Management Company, Translink, PSNI, Planning Service and Roads Service.
- Phase One involves renewing Ann Street, Castle Lane, Cornmarket, Arthur Street, Arthur Place, Arthur Square, Callender Street, Castle Street, Fountain Street, College Street, Fountain Lane, Queen Street and part of King Street at a cost of £16m. The work starts today and will be completed by May 2009.
- The final street in phase one of ‘Belfast: Streets Ahead’ is renewal of Donegall Place and an announcement on the implementation of this will be made in Autumn 2007 following the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) and Investment Strategy Northern Ireland (ISNI) budget allocations to NI Departments. Phase 2 will involve renewal of Donegall Square and surrounding streets. This again is dependent upon the outcome of CSR, ISNI, economic appraisal and planning approval.
- An exhibition of the designs and materials for the streets to be renewed will tour shopping centres and other venues throughout Belfast to let the public see the plans for the City Centre. The exhibition will be on view at Belfast City Hall until 25 June 2007. An information leaflet, telephone helpline (08000 834 650) and dedicated website www.belfaststreetsaheadni.gov.uk are also available for those who will be affected by the construction works and for the general public.
- The construction works will be carried out in full consultation with the businesses in the streets to be improved. While there will be some disruption Farrans will aim to keep this to a minimum. Farrans Customer Care Team can be contacted on the helpline number.
