Prop-arazzi

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA, will publish today the final Regeneration Masterplan for the Westside of Belfast City Centre.

The masterplan has been finalised following extensive consultation with stakeholders on the draft proposals for the revitalisation of the Greater Castle Street area which the Minister published last year. The Minister also revealed that a landscape architect has been appointed to produce designs to renew Bank Square.

Margaret Ritchie said: “I am grateful to all those who responded to the consultation. I hope that they will share my view that this final plan will strengthen existing businesses trading in the area, attract new investment and provide the potential to reinforce community links from the city centre through to the west of the city. It also holds the prospect of promoting new homes at the heart of Belfast.

“The final plan emphasises the importance of a revitalised Bank Square. A landscape architect has now been appointed to produce designs for this area.”

The proposals in the masterplan build on the area’s existing strengths, including a well developed independent trader sector and a strong and unique historic character. The historic street pattern will be preserved while new sustainable development, sensitive to the character of the area, will be promoted.

The Minister continued: “This means delivering ground-level street frontages complemented by a network of streets and squares. The plan proposes to revitalise the core of the area by creating a new pedestrian-only route linking Fountain Lane and Chapel Lane. This has the potential to increase retail, café and restaurant activity.”

At one end of this new street a new city centre square, to be called ‘Fountain Square’, is proposed. This ambitious development would significantly increase the numbers of shoppers and visitors into the area boosting tourism, economic development and the evening economy.”

In addition, several strategic development opportunity sites are identified which could be brought forward in separate phases to improve linkages to neighbouring areas.

Belfast artist Brendan Jamison has used 11, 000 sugar cubes to make a model of a building that is to be built in the Catherdral Quarter in the city. Great PR for the the property development team and a very fresh approach.

Rumour has it that at over 11, 000 lumps the building still contains less sugar than a can of red bull.

Sarah Teather, MP for Brent East has moved from business, enterprise and regulatory reform to become housing spokeswoman for the party.

The British Construction Industry Awards 2008 are due to be announced at a gala awards dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London this week. The BCI Awards are widely regarded as the industry’s ‘Oscars’. The awards dinner will attract around 900  members of the construction industry in the UK.
National Construction Week is also scheduled to take place from the 8th of October. The aim of the week is to inform young people about the many careers available in the modern construction industry.

Joe Irvin former Special Adviser to John Prescott has been picked to replace Fiona Gordon as No10 Political Secretary. This presumably leaves a position to be filled on housing and planning issues in the Policy Unit. 

American Kazillionaire Donald Trump has jetted in again to speak at the first day of the public local inquiry on his plans to create a $1 billion golf course at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire - however one local stands in his way right slap bang in the middle of the proposed course…lets see how this pans out. Otherwise he’s ‘off to Northern Ireland’ he says.

Ruth Kelly has made a statement in the House of Commons to announce the introduction of a new congestion charge for Greater Manchester.  The scheme will be funded from the Transport Innovation Fund.  Improved public transport links have been promised before the scheme comes online in 2013.

 The scheme is expected to reduce congestion in Greater Manchester by 20% .

The Irish Independent reports today that 2,000 new hotel rooms will be planned for Dublin City Centre during the next few years as well as nine new hotels. Five extra floors of bedrooms will be added at the Clarence Hotel on Wellington Quay owned by U2 - Elevation, literally.

According to research by CB Richard Ellis most of these new bedrooms will be located in the north and south Dockland areas. - plenty more room for the increasing number of stag and hen parties taking over the city!

Housing Minister, Caroline Flint, has announced the short list for Gordon Brown’s ten eco-town’s this morning.  The towns are designed with the twin aims of addressing the housing shortage and creating low - or zero - carbon communities in the UK.

The areas on the short list are:

- Pennbury, Leicestershire: 12-15,000 homes on a development incorporating brownfield, greenfield and surplus public sector land. Four miles south east of Leicester. This proposal could include 4,000 new affordable houses in an area of high affordability pressure.

- Manby and Strubby, Lincolnshire: 5,000 homes put forward by East Lindsey District Council on two sites, with large elements of brownfield land including a former RAF base. The proposal complements the strategic plan for the phased relocation of communities on Lincolnshire coast because of high flood risk, and could include 1,500 affordable homes in an area of very high affordability pressure.

- Curborough, Staffordshire: 5,000 homes on the brownfield site of the former Fradley airfield, ten miles from Burton. The proposal could include 2,000 affordable houses in an area of very high affordability pressure.

- Middle Quinton, Warwickshire: 6,000 homes on a former Royal Engineers depot which has a rail link to the Worcester-London rail line. Six miles South West of Stratford upon Avon. The proposal could include 2,000 affordable houses in an area of very high affordability pressure.

- Bordon-Whitehill, Hampshire: 5-8,000 homes on a site owned by the Ministry of Defence. A significant number of ex-MoD homes are already on the site, west of Whitehill-Bordon. The proposal could include 2,000 affordable houses in an area of very high affordability pressure.

- Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire: 10-15,000 homes on a site adjoining the M40 and the Oxford-Bicester railway. Three miles south west of Bicester, the site includes a current airstrip. The scheme could include between 3,000 and 5,000 affordable homes, in an area of extreme affordability pressure.

- Ford, West Sussex: 5,000 homes on a site which includes brownfield land and the former Ford airfield. Close to rail line linking London and the Sussex coast. The scheme could include 1,500 affordable homes, in an area of very high affordability pressure.

- Imerys China Clay Community, Cornwall: Development of around 5,000 homes on former china clay workings, industrial land and disused mining pits no longer needed by owner Imerys. Close to St Austell. The scheme could include 1,500 affordable homes, in an area of extreme affordability pressure.

- Rossington, South Yorkshire: Up to 15,000 homes regenerating the former colliery village of Rossington, three miles south of Doncaster. The scheme could include 1,500 affordable homes, in an area of moderate affordability pressure.

- Coltishall, Norfolk: 5,000 homes on a former RAF airfield, eight miles north of Norwich. The scheme could include 2,000 affordable homes in an area of very high affordability pressure.

- Hanley Grange, Cambridgeshire: 8,000 homes on land adjacent to the A11 designed to improve the severe lack of housing in and around Cambridge. The scheme could include 3,000 affordable homes in an area of extreme affordability pressure.

- Marston Vale and New Marston, Bedfordshire: Up to 15,400 homes on a series of sites, including former industrial sites, along the east-west rail line to Stewartby and Millbrook. The scheme could include 2,000 affordable homes in an area of high affordability pressure.

- Elsenham, Essex: A minimum of 5,000 homes north east of the existing Elsenham village. Close to M11 and the London to Cambridge rail line. The scheme could include 1,800 affordable homes in an area of extreme affordability pressure.

- Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire: An eco-town proposal was submitted for Kingston-on-Soar, to the south of Nottingham. In response to representations from Rushcliffe Borough Council, this site is not to be pursued. However, the Government is proposing to carry out a further review in partnership with RBC to consider whether there is a suitable alternative location with the potential to be viable within the Rushcliffe local authority area.

- Leeds City Region, Yorkshire: A number of eco-town proposals were submitted for locations within the area of Leeds City Region partnership of 11 authorities and principally between Leeds and Selby. The Leeds City Region Partnership has indicated support in principle for an eco-town within the sub-region. The Partnership has proposed a further study to compare the best alternative locations across the Leeds City Region partnership area. The Government has agreed to support this approach, on the basis that it will allow a further announcement to be made shortly of one or more sites for consultation

All the sites are expected to be deeply controversial - and Weber is on standby to help!