Neighbourhood Renewal Seminar The second seminar on 28th February 2006 was on the topic of 'Neighbourhood Renewal and Community Regeneration', and was chaired by Richard O'Rawe, Chair of Eset Belfast Partnership. Keynote speakers at this event were David Hanson MP, Minister for Social Development; Dr Brendan Murtagh, Reader in the School of Planning, Queen's University; Geraldine McAteer, Chief Executive of West Belfast Partnership; and Jackie Redpath, Chief Executive of Greater Shankill Partnership.  | David Hanson MP outlined the rationale for Neighbourhood Renewal, and how Government sees this as a key strategy to tackling urban and community deprivation. He highlighted that Government has committed £56m over the next three years to this high-profile initiative. Neighbourhood Renewal areas represent those communities that fall into the top 10% most deprived communities based on current Noble Deprivation Indicators. | | To read the Minister's full presentation click here. |
In his presentation Dr Brendan Murtagh outlined that Belfast is a 'Twin Speed' city: a High Growth city at one extreme in terms of employment and spatial housing opportunities, and a Fractal city in terms of contested interfaces, pockets of multiple deprivation, and neighbourhoods with high levels of State dependency. Brendan highlighted the problems of a skill mismatch between local labour supply and the growth areas of the city economy, and also a spatial mismatch in terms of urban development. He also stressed the need for policy coherence in neighbourhood regeneration. Geraldine McAteer and Jackie Redpath delivered a joint presentation on the need for 'connections' under Neighbourhood Renewal. Both stressed the linkages between local neighbourhood renewal and wider city regeneration initiatives. It was highlighted that there needs to be connections between communities and that collaborative urban alliances can create synergistic outcomes. Working together is more effective than working separately. A Follow-Up Workshop was held on 7th March 2006 at the Millennium Community Outreach Centre. Michael Gallagher of M F G Consultancy facilitated the workshop. Michael delivered a presentation on the experiences of TRIAX in neighbourhood renewal in Londonderry/Derry. To view his presentation click here. To view the workshop report click here. If you wish to make any comments on the workshop report, or on the topic of this seminar, please click here.
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