14 April 2006

ADVISORY PANEL SETS OUT VISION FOR CRUMLIN ROAD GAOL AND GIRDWOOD

The Advisory Panel set up to advise on the redevelopment of the former Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood Barracks in North Belfast has set out its vision for the redevelopment of the sites.

Speaking following the second meeting of the panel at Clifton House today, Mr Roy Adams, said: "I am delighted that the panel as a whole has adopted an ambitious vision for our work."

Mr Adams outlined the collective vision as: "to create a regeneration project of international significance which brings maximum economic, social and environmental benefits to the local and wider community and in doing so creates a vibrant, inclusive and diverse environment which attracts present and future generations of people to live, work and visit."

Explaining the work of the Panel, Mr Adams said that the development of the sites will be taken forward on an integrated basis through a master planning approach. He was pleased with the early progress made by the panel and advised that it was commissioning an international competition to appoint a masterplanning consultant.

He emphasised that the future development of the sites will be subject to a full public consultation process to ensure that everyone with an interest in the development has an opportunity to participate and contribute. He was confident that this can lead to decisions on the future development of the sites which have the support of the whole community.

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. The membership of the Advisory Panel is attached below.
   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).
5. For further information, please contact Michael McAvoy, Advisory Panel Secretariat on 028 9072 6014.

Crumlin Road Gaol / Girdwood Park Advisory Panel Membership
Chair	Ministerial Appointment	Roy Adams OBE
Political Reps	DUP	Diane Dodds MLA
		Nelson McCausland MLA
	Sinn Fein	Gerry Kelly MLA
		Cllr Danny Lavery
	SDLP	Cllr Pat Convery
	UUP	Fred Cobain MLA
Community Reps	Cliftonville CEP	Manus Maguire
	Gt. Shankill Partnership Board	John MacVicar
	Ardoyne CEP	Joe Marley
	Gt. New Lodge CEP	Paul Roberts
	Upper North CEP	Ruth Moore
	Lower North CEP	Ian Crozier
Statutory Bodies	Laganside Dev. Corp.	Kyle Alexander
	Belfast City Council	Marie Therese McGivern
	Community Relations Council	Dr Duncan Morrow
	Department of Social Development	John McGrath

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