29 July 2004
250,000 PEOPLE SET TO BENEFIT FROM MAJOR RENEWAL INITIATIVE
Around 250,000 people living in the most deprived parts of Northern Ireland are set to benefit from a major new strategy for neighbourhood regeneration, the Minister for Social Development, John Spellar MP, said today.
The Minister announced the 32 areas that have been chosen for priority treatment under the People and Place strategy, that he launched last year. The areas, identified as suffering from the most severe multiple deprivation, include 13 neighbourhoods in Belfast, four in Londonderry and 15 in other towns and cities, all of which are in the top 10% of the most disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland.
Using the combined efforts of Government Departments and Agencies, and working in partnership with local communities, the aim is to improve sustainable economic activity, produce better social conditions through better public services and to provide attractive and safe living conditions in the targeted areas.
For example, an area could benefit from an improved local environment initiative to lower crime, support for after school groups or programmes to help improve the employability of people living in an area.
The Minister said:
"Following extensive consultation, I can now announce the Neighbourhood Renewal Areas. These areas are important as they define the places of greatest disadvantage and allow us to concentrate our efforts to combat deprivation. However, we must not forget those communities which are close to, but outside, the Neighbourhood Renewal Areas, we must ensure that they do not spiral into further deprivation and disadvantage.
"To guard against this, benefits from the 32 areas will flow across boundaries into neighbouring areas. Neighbourhood Renewal Areas will not become isolated islands of regeneration, competing against each other for funds. Each area will access its fair share of designated funds, although the pace of progress may vary, particularly in the early stages.
"Local groups will be the key to success in implementing the strategy. Whilst Neighbourhood Partnership Boards will be established in these areas, many will utilise existing partnership structures, such as Triax, the pilot Neighbourhood Regeneration Taskforce already established in Derry / Londonderry. I will expect to see co-operation across areas in dealing strategically with core problems, for example, educational attainment and employability."
Mr Spellar also announced a pilot programme to help combat deprivation outside the Neighbourhood Renewal Areas. He said:
"These are often areas with interface tensions and anti-social problems. It is important that we identify, and are ready to intervene, in areas at risk of slipping into a spiral of decline. To help support these communities, which perhaps feel neglected or isolated, and to help build confidence and a sense of belonging, I am announcing the ‘Areas at Risk Pilot Programme’.
"This will be a highly responsive programme and it is being announced as a direct result of comments fed back to me during the consultation process. The programme will allow us to support activities that may include dealing with problems at interfaces, improving communication and information about community and public services and providing appropriate things for young people to do."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy ‘People and Place’ can be obtained from the DSD website - www.dsdni.gov.uk/publications
- Copies of the Draft Implementation Plans produced by; Belfast Regeneration Office, North West Development Office and Regional Development Office are available from the DSD website www.dsdni.gov.uk/consultation-zone
- The strategic aims of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy are to:
- develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas;
- develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider economy;
- improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments; and
- help create attractive, safe, sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.
- Neighbourhood Renewal Areas have been created around the urban areas shown in the official deprivation measures to be among the most disadvantaged 10% of areas in Northern Ireland.
- The 32 areas identified by the Minister include 13 in Belfast, four in Londonderry and 15 in other towns and cities across Northern Ireland and have an approximate population of 250,000.
The final boundaries and the names of these neighbourhoods will be agreed by the Department and the Neighbourhood Partnership Boards, when they are established.
- THE 32 NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL AREAS
BELFAST NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL AREAS
1. Inner East Belfast - Short Strand, Lower Newtownards Road Albertbridge Road, Albertbridge/Beersbridge, The Mount, Woodstock Road, Lower Ravenhill Road.
2. South West Belfast – Sandy Row, Lower Donegall Road, The Village, Roden Street.
3. Greater Shankill – Lower Shankill, Mid Shankill/Woodvale, Upper Shankill, Ainsworth, Glencairn, Ballygomartin Road, Lower Oldpark.
4. Lower Falls/Clonard – Divis Street/Hamill Street/John Street, Roden Street Estate, Clonard/Falls, Cavendish, Fort Street/Forest Street, Beechmount, Donegal Road (North), Iveagh, Broadway.
5. Upper Springfield/Whiterock – Ballymurphy, Springhill, Whiterock ‘Rock’ Streets, Turf Lodge, New Barnsley, Dermot Hill, Moyard, Springfield Park.
6. Crumlin/Ardoyne - Ardoyne, Cliftonville.
7. Tullycarnet – Kinross, Melfort, Vionville.
8. Inner South - Markets, Donegall Pass.
9. Lenadoon – Lenadoon, Glencolin Estate.
10. Colin – Poleglass, Twinbrook.
11. Inner North – Duncairn, Limestone Road, Mountcollyer, New Lodge, Unity/Carrick Hill.
12. Upper Ardoyne/Ligoniel - Ligoniel, Silverstream, Wheatfield, Glenbryn.
13. Rathcoole – part of Rathcoole Estate Carmeen, Drive/Rathmore Drive.
The final titles given to neighbourhoods and any minor adjustments to the detailed boundary, will be agreed by the Department, in consultation with each Neighbourhood Partnership Board.
NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL AREAS IN LONDONDERRY
Following the launch of ‘People and Place’, North West Development Office (NWDO) prepared a Discussion Paper on the proposed implementation of Neighbourhood Renewal in Derry/Londonderry.
In this document the wards and enumeration districts, that had been identified in the Strategy were brought together into four proposed Neighbourhood Renewal Areas (NRAs)
14. Cityside; 15. Outer North;
16. Outer West; and
17. Waterside.
During the consultation, there was considerable interest in the proposed ‘neighbourhoods, as identified using the Noble Index. It was felt by many that the Paper captured broadly the range of areas, which should be targeted under Neighbourhood Renewal.
However, it was felt that greater consideration should be given to the definition of areas and the establishment of boundaries.
The final boundaries – and the titles/names given to the ‘neighbourhoods’- will be agreed between the Neighbourhood Partnership Boards, when established, and the Department. These will require the endorsement of the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme Group.
NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL AREAS IN OTHER TOWNS AND CITIES
18. Armagh -
The Neighbourhood Renewal Area will be on the western side of Armagh City and will include the Callanbridge Park, Mullacreevie and Drumarg estates.
19. Ballyclare -
The Neighbourhood Renewal Area will cover the Grange and Thornhill estates in the northern part of Ballyclare.
20. Ballymena -
The Neighbourhood Renewal Area will be based around the Ballykeel and Ballee estates.
21. Bangor -
The Neighbourhood Renewal Area will be on the south western outskirts of the town, centred on the Kilcooley estate.
22. Craigavon -
The Neighbourhood Renewal Area will cover a number of estates that are part of the Brownlow development.
23. Coleraine (East) -
This Neighbourhood Renewal Area will be based around the Ballysally and Millburn estates on the eastern side of Coleraine.
24. Coleraine (West) -
This Neighbourhood Renewal Area will be based on Churchland ward on the western side of Coleraine, which includes the Heights and Killowen housing estates.
25. Downpatrick -
The Neighbourhood Renewal Area will be based around the Flying Horse ward and will take in the Model Farm, New Model Farm and Flying Horse estates and some other parts of the town.
26. Dungannon -
The Neighbourhood Renewal Area will be to the south and west of Dungannon town centre and will include the Ballygawley Road estate.
27. Limavady -
The Neighbourhood Renewal Area will be on the western side of Limavady and will include the Hospital Lane, Greystone Park and Roeview Park areas.
28. Lurgan -
The Neighbourhood Renewal Area will be on the western side of Lurgan and will include areas such as Edward Street, Hill Street and Russell Drive.
29. Newry -
The Neighbourhood Renewal Area will take in a large part of the central and western areas of Newry. It will include the Derrybeg, Carnagat, Daisy Hill and Mourneview Park estates and a number of other areas.
30. Omagh -
The Neighbourhood Renewal Area will be in the centre of Omagh and will take in the Gallows Hill and Campsie Road areas.
31. Portadown -
The Neighbourhood Renewal Area will be on the north western side of Portadown and will take in the Obins Street, King Street, Churchill Park and Woodside areas.
32. Strabane -
The main part of this Neighbourhood Renewal Area will take in the Fountain, Springhill Park and Ballycolman estates.
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