Transcript Slide 1
Challenges for waterfront development Examples from Belfast and Dublin Dr Jenny Muir 12th September 2012 Introduction to Belfast’s waterfront 1791: First shipyard 1840s: Belfast Harbour Commissioners dredged and straightened the river to form the Victoria Channel – and paid for new shipyards, dry docks and reclaimed land from 1850s ‘Golden Age’ of shipbuilding 1880 – 1914 including Titanic Decline of shipbuilding from 1970s, last ship built in 2003 1989: Laganside Urban Development Corporation, 200 hectares: offices, private apartments, construction of weir UDC wound up in 2007, area now administered by Department of Social Development e.g. public space, river and weir 2001: work starts on site preparation and Masterplan for Titanic Quarter 2005: TQ site lease bought by Harcourt Developments from Fred Olsen Shipping Co. – freehold owned by Belfast Harbour Commissioners Titanic Quarter outline 75 hectare site on East side of river; plus 10 hectares Northern Ireland Science Park Phase 1 (2001 - 2012) o o o o *475 apartments & marina *Gateway office building: Citibank *Belfast Metropolitan College *New Public Records Office Phase 2 (2007 – present) o o o o o *Titanic Belfast museum (for 2012 anniversary) *Film studios (refurbishment) Approx. 2000 apartments including social/ affordable Leisure and office facilities Small-scale retail, hotel Titanic Quarter today Belfast’s waterfront Introduction to Dublin’s waterfront Port activity from mid-17th century Gradual move outwards from the city during 18th and 19th centuries Departure point for America during Famine (1840s – 1860s), now commemorated by public art and replica Famine ship No shipbuilding industry – important working Port to this day Waterfront decline began to be addressed in 1980s 1986: Custom House Docks Development – Urban Development Corporation: o Part of a national level Urban Renewal Scheme but also had its own planning powers o Included construction of the International Financial Services Centre, important for the ‘Celtic Tiger’ boom Dublin Docklands outline Approx. 500 hectares Overseen by Dublin Docklands Development Authority, a statutory body created by DDDA Act 1997 Includes statutory community involvement forum Aims: o Sustainable social and economic regeneration of the area (both sides of the River Liffey) o Improve physical environment o Secure continued development of financial services industry in the area Masterplan issued every 5 years, most recent is 2008 Separate planning process, not controlled by Dublin City Council Recent announcement that DDDA is to be wound up following a damning audit report – conflict of interest on the Board Dublin Docklands today Selected challenges in waterfront development Connectivity Heritage – a big responsibility Housing Public subsidy – not if but how Responding to the unexpected Connectivity – the challenge of getting there ‘Real’ distance: transport of all kinds built into phase 1 which requires public sector investment upfront ‘Imagined’ distance: making the waterfront a destination for locals, tourists and employers – connecting with the rest of the world e.g. Belfast Our Time Our Place campaign (below) Technical connectivity: broadband Connectivity example: Dublin – ‘real’ distance LUAS tram on the North side only: connecting the Docklands O2 Centre concert hall with the city’s main bus station and two of the main train stations, 2009 Samuel Beckett bridge: connecting North and South of the River Liffey, 2009 Heritage – the responsibility of selling history How are the topics selected? Why are they considered important? Whose history? Presented for whom? Example - Titanic Quarter: o o o o o o o o Heritage ‘offer’ based on one ship not shipbuilding as a whole Important for Belfast to situate itself in the lucrative Titanic industry: ‘she was all right when she left here’ The story is presented as heroic – pushing technological boundaries Located in a modern ‘signature building’ while the adjacent Harland & Wolff HQ - including the Drawing Office where the ship was designed - is half derelict Sectarianism in the shipyards’ history is played down The story is presented primarily for tourists and the Irish diaspora It’s expensive! However the memorialisation is sensitive and well done Heritage example: Titanic Belfast..... Memorialisation of 1,502 lives..... .....and the Drawing Office Housing – opportunities for all? Belfast Titanic Quarter o o o o o No housing on site before the redevelopment No planning obligation to provide social or affordable housing Perhaps some concern that social housing would damage attempts to make the redevelopment ‘shared space’ between Protestants and Catholics Affordable housing in Phase 2 – but when? Falling value of apartments for sale bought off plan caused mortgage difficulties for some purchasers Dublin Docklands o o o o Established residential community before the redevelopment - lots of social housing Political pressure to improve housing conditions as part of the development Strong residents’ organisations and presence on DDDA Board One notorious flats complex demolished, 20% social or affordable housing requirement introduced, template for legislation Housing: Dublin Docklands o 3.300 new homes, 20% social or affordable o Investment purchases in early years led to transient new population o Low space standards in some of the first apartment developments o Social mismatch between new and longer-standing residents o Families not attracted to owner occupation in the area o BUT 20% social or affordable housing achieved Public subsidy example: Titanic Quarter Titanic Belfast (museum): • NI Tourist Board £36.5m • Belfast City Council £10m (Memorandum of Understanding) -Jobs & apprenticeships - Affordable housing (£30m private sector) Others: • Graving Dock/ PumpHouse: £1.2m NITB, £1.5m Dept of Environment • EU Peace III £2.27m Nomadic historic tug boat • Public Records Office £30m • College £44m Responding to the unexpected: Titanic Studios http://www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk/sections/10/the-paint-hallstudio.aspx