9 May 2005
LONDONDERRY HOSTS MAJOR CONFERENCE ON REGENERATION
Experts in the field of regenerating cities and communities in France, Denmark, USA and Britain will share their experiences with local people at a major conference at the Millennium Forum in Londonderry, which opens today and continues on Tuesday.
Sponsored by the Department for Social Development (DSD), the conference will look at how the experience of other countries can be applied in Northern Ireland.
Key speakers include Sir Richard Needham, who, as a Minister, had a close association with Derry and played a key role in securing inward investment to Northern Ireland.
Declan O’Hare, Director of DSD’s North West Development Office (NWDO), said: "Derry suffered greatly during the political conflict in Northern Ireland, with over one third of its city centre buildings destroyed. Additionally, it has experienced the problems common to many cities in Western Europe arising from a decline in traditional industries.
"In response to this, the North West Development Office has provided more than £100 million over the last 10 years to fund regeneration projects and community initiatives. This has helped attract private sector investment of over £150million and other large scale public funding.
"Much has been achieved over recent years. The city has been radically transformed, redeveloped and extended. Its centre, once an area of devastation, has been transformed into a vibrant and attractive place for people to work, live and visit.
"This is evident from the developments promoted and supported by NWDO which include Foyleside Shopping Centre, the new Debenhams Store, the Tower and City Hotels, the Millennium Forum, the former factory buildings that have been brought back into use and the enhancement of the public realm.
"Future regeneration will be design–led, integrated and focus on supporting Derry’s new role as the Regional City for the North West and a transportation, industrial, services and tourism hub. This will be reflected in improved co-ordination in respect of cross-border investment in infrastructure and wider economic development.
"This conference provides an opportunity for all of us involved in regeneration in Northern Ireland to learn from the experiences of other regeneration practitioners. Hopefully our visitors will go away also having learned something from us."
Alan Shannon, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Social Development, will address the conference tomorrow on how regeneration has brought new life to areas of deprivation throughout Northern Ireland.
Mr Shannon said: "Following decades of violence and economic decline in many of our towns and cities across Northern Ireland, we are facing a new era of development and transformation.
"Our two largest cites, Belfast and Derry, are leading the way in this transformation, each setting out a vision for the 21st Century that envisages the development of these cities as high quality, safe, urban environments, attractive to investors, employees, residents and tourists alike.
"In taking forward this important work, it is therefore critical that communities, including our most disadvantaged communities, are fully included in this process. They must be able to avail of the new opportunities created and share the benefits that come with increasing economic prosperity.
"Successful regeneration requires a comprehensive and integrated approach by government and the private and community sectors working together in partnership."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The conference, attended by 200 delegates, is entitled "International Regeneration: What Can We Learn?"
2. Interviews can be arranged with the following speakers:
Kate Joncas, President of the Downtown Seattle Association. During her tenure, Downtown Seattle has gone through a renaissance to become one of the most successful in the United States. Kate has over 25 years experience in downtown revitalization in the private, public and non profit sectors in communities around the world. Ms Joncas has written workbooks on market analysis, business recruitment, business improvement districts and downtown housing. She has won awards in national competitions for urban designs in Boston and St. Paul.
Declan O’Hare, Director of DSD’s North West Development Office was appointed in April 2001. NWDO has played a lead role in promoting physical, social and economic regeneration in Derry for the past 30 years.
Sir Richard Needham was the longest serving British Minister in Northern Ireland. During his six and a half years, he was Minister of Health and Social Security, Transport, Energy, Employment, Trade & Industry and Environment.
3. Delegates will have an opportunity to see at first hand some of the work of DSD and other organisations by taking part in a number of study visits. These include:
Creative Industries - Venues such as the Nerve Centre are contributing to the cultural growth of the city and attracting international audiences. More than 100,000 people currently benefit from the work of the centre across its various events, programmes and projects. Forty thousand people attend music concerts, a further 15,000 go to film events and 10,000 are engaged in educational programmes. The centre offers 120 music lessons a week, 600 practices a year and over 150 people take part in training courses.
Social Economy – A series of initiatives have been undertaken to develop solutions to local problems building on a collaborative approach that draws on the community’s capacities. Following the closure of the United Technologies Automotive Factory in 1997, the Creggan lost its largest employer and the need for economic regeneration became pressing. With the help of NWDO, the Rath Mor Business and Community Enterprise Centre has created almost 170 jobs in an area of multiple deprivation.
Community-based organisations - Organisations such as the Inner City Trust have played a critical role in rebuilding parts of Derry destroyed during the years of conflict, leading to new homes, a hotel, conference, museum and workspace facilities.
Tourism – Derry is one of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe. New hotels and restaurants are helping the city, one of the longest continuously inhabited places in Ireland, to start to realise its enormous tourism potential, attracting an increasing number of international visitors.
4. For further information please contact Dara Cosgrove on telephone 028 9082 9078.
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