Speaking during her visit to the area the Minister said: “The former Laganside Corporation made a significant contribution to the physical regeneration of Cathedral Quarter. Development of the area is well underway and my Department continues to work with developers on completing schemes such as St. Anne’s Square and ‘The Four Corners’. We are also working with the Old Museum Arts Centre on the development of its new home, ‘The Mac’, at Talbot Street."
During the past year DSD has worked with Belfast City Centre Management, Belfast City Council and key stakeholders to set up a steering group to develop a regeneration strategy for Cathedral Quarter, to take the area forward to the next stage of development. This group has now started work under the chairmanship of Paul McErlean. The Minister has committed £100,000 funding to allow the steering group to produce the strategy and promote the area including the employment of a Cathedral Quarter Development Manager for the next two years.
The Minister commented: “The time is now right to address the long-term future for this area and the appointment of the Cathedral Quarter Steering Group and the Development Manager will encourage a strategic and sustainable approach to its regeneration.”
The Minister also confirmed that DSD had suspended rent increases for the 30 managed workspace units in the area while a review of the Scheme is carried out. This scheme provides units for arts and community organisations at affordable rents. Tenants in these units were concerned that the proposed phased increase to commercial rents would put them out of business.
The Minister took time to visit one of the managed workspace units and said: “My Department is currently carrying out a review of the Managed Workspace scheme within Cathedral Quarter to ensure that the accommodation continues to operate effectively in the support and incubation of community and arts stakeholders in the area."
Paul McErlean added: “While Cathedral Quarter has begun to fulfil some of its potential, it still has a long way to go and much work and support is still needed. The Steering Group, with its broad representation of arts, business, leisure and other stakeholders, creates an opportunity over the next two years to map out the strategy for the area going forward. We are grateful to the Minister and DSD for the support announced today.”
Patricia Freedman, newly appointed Cathedral Quarter Development Manager said: “We look forward to working with DSD, Belfast City Council and stakeholders to further develop the Cathedral Quarter as a cultural quarter. It is the oldest and historically most vibrant part of Belfast and currently home to many of the city’s most innovative and dynamic arts organizations and arts-aware businesses. In the run-up to the opening of the Mac and major city-centre retail developments, we need to ensure that regeneration not only revitalizes the area but also safeguards its unique personality.”
Notes to Editors:
- The Department for Social Development assumed responsibility for three Managed Workspace buildings situated at 109-113 Royal Avenue; 23-25 Donegall Street/1 Exchange Place; and 42 Waring Street (Cotton Court) when Laganside wound up on 31 March 2007. The Managed Workspace Scheme has enabled cultural, arts and community organisations to locate in the Cathedral Quarter in affordable accommodation. BDO Stoy Hayward has been appointed by DSD to carry out a review of the Managed Workspace to consider best practice in other similar schemes in GB and RoI and to make recommendations on the future strategy for the Scheme.
- The Cathedral Quarter Steering Group is comprised of representatives from the public and private sector interests in Cathedral Quarter. DSD and Belfast City Council’s Tourism Development Unit are represented on the Steering Group together with representatives from the Merchant Hotel, the Ulster Architectural & Heritage Society, University of Ulster, Belfast Circus School, Community Arts Forum, Kabosh Theatre Productions, Barnabas Ventures, Royal Exchange, MCE Public Relations, Belfast City Centre Management, New Belfast Community Arts Initiative, St Anne’s Cathedral and the Old Museum Arts Centre. The main purpose of the Cathedral Quarter Steering Group is to bring together the key stakeholders within this area of the City to provide strategic advice and support for the Development Manager
- Patricia Freedman was recently appointed as the Cathedral Quarter Development Manager. The role of the Development Manager is to assist the Cathedral Quarter Steering Committee to develop and implement a Strategic Vision and Development Plan which provides for a thriving arts and cultural area. The post is being funded by DSD for a two year period.
- 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
