Hanson Announces Plans For Crumlin Road Gaol And Girdwood

12 September 2005
HANSON ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR CRUMLIN ROAD GAOL AND GIRDWOOD
The Social Development Minister has set out his vision for the future of Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood Barracks in North Belfast.
During a visit to the sites David Hanson said: "The imaginative and sensitive development of Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood Barracks has the potential to create a regeneration project of international significance which can bring maximum benefits to the community in North Belfast and the wider city.
"The Gaol and Girdwood Barracks have been part of life in Belfast for a long time, symbolizing the period of conflict. These sites can now become the engine for economic and social regeneration, harnessing public and private sector investment and creating employment and training opportunities in one of the most disadvantaged areas of Northern Ireland.
"We have the opportunity now to take these sites forward on an integrated basis through a master planning approach, and maximise the scope for regeneration. The North Belfast Community Action Unit of DSD will be responsible for this reporting regularly to me."
Referring to the next stages in the process, Mr Hanson said: "The future development of the sites will be subject to a full public consultation. Now is the time to forward your views to the Department. I am confident that this process can lead to decisions on the future development of the sites which have the full support of the whole community.
"I am proposing to set up a local Advisory Panel to make recommendations to me on the development of the Gaol and Girdwood sites. I have appointed Mr Roy Adams as Chair of the Panel, to take forward this work. Mr Adams is internationally respected for his work in urban planning and regeneration and I am pleased that he has agreed to assist us."
The Minister also launched the first edition of a new newsletter "Gaol Times" which will keep the community informed of developments at the Gaol and Girdwood. He also viewed the work which has been completed in preparing the two sites for development.
While in the area the Minister visited the Lower Oldpark Community Association which provides a range of education, training, health and childcare services. He took the opportunity to do a short walkabout to see some of the difficulties experienced by local people.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The Crumlin Road Gaol was transferred to OFMDFM in August 2003 under the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative. It is a Grade A listed building and is considered of international importance in view of its history and architecture. The development of the Gaol is being taken forward by the North Belfast Community Action Unit.
2. In February 2005, the Government announced its decision to close the adjacent Girdwood Army Barracks.
3. The two sites comprise some 30 acres and occupy a strategic location by virtue of their proximity to Belfast City centre, providing a unique opportunity to regenerate one of the most disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland.
4. Mr Roy Adams is an Executive Director with Laing O'Rourke, the international construction Company based in England. He was formerly the Chief Executive of Europe's largest Architect-Engineering practice, Building Design Partnership (BDP).
Originally from Carrickfergus and a graduate of Queen's University Belfast, he joined BDP straight from university as editor of the Belfast Urban Area Plan, published in 1969. During the 1970's, although based in England, he worked continuously on regeneration projects in Northern Ireland, particularly housing. In the 1980's Mr Adams returned full time to Northern Ireland as Chairman of BDP's Belfast office. During that time his firm completed projects such as Castle Court and new offices for Belfast City Council. He was joint author of the concept plan for Laganside and also led master-planning projects in Carrickfergus and Londonderry.
During the 1990's Mr Adams was Chairman of the London and then the Paris offices of BDP, before taking on the role of Chief Executive, based in London. He has led several panels of expert advisors on European development projects and was a member of the Secretary of State's awards panel for partnership in regeneration.
Mr Adams joined Laing O'Rourke in November 2003 as Executive Director responsible for the Radical Innovation Group.
He was part of a three-man team, which prepared the North Belfast Community Action Project Report (Dunlop Report) to address social and community issues in North Belfast. Over the past year he has been acting as a strategic advisor to OFMDFM in devising a plan for the redevelopment of the Crumlin Road Gaol.
5. Lower Oldpark is a small peaceline community in North Belfast, situated off the Crumlin Road. The Community Association was established in 1972 by local people. DSD continues to support the Association and has recently provided Neighbourhood Renewal funding of Ł56,000 to sustain key jobs and support an outreach worker.
6. For media enquiries please contact the Information Office on 029 9082 9078.

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