Lower Shankill & Brown Square
Background information on the Lower Shankill & Brown Square pilot area within Building Successful Communities.
Background
- both estates in West Belfast (separated by Westlink)
- large tracts of vacant land in area
- Shankill Ward ranked 4th most deprived in Northern Ireland
- low educational attainment
- high unemployment
- high crime rate
Lower Shankill & Brown Square video
Scheme updates
Lower Shankill & Brown Square area analysis report and minutes
Lower Shankill & Brown Square BSC interventions completed and approximate spend
Renewing the Routes
Funding to Belfast City Council for their ‘Renewing the Routes’ scheme to deliver Environmental Improvement schemes at Millfield corner, DRD Pumping Station and Townsend Street/Shankill corner. This included site clearance, hard landscaping, fencing, pathing and planting with maintenance funding for five years.
Lost Streets Art Piece – Shankill Parade
Installation of the ‘Lost Streets’ artwork on a disused NIHE site at Shankill Parade ideal for taxi and bus tours to park. With the inclusion of hard and soft landscaping the installation provides a complete, holistic and fulfilling experience for visitors, tourists and residents alike.
Dover Street Millennium Park – Floodlight Installation
Provision of four floodlights at Dover Street Millennium Park Multi Use Games Area (MUGA).
Brown Square – Play Park Secure Fencing
Make the play park secure by installing fencing around it at Brown Square to make it a more pleasant place to play and encourage greater use of the play area.
Brown Square – White Lighting
Modernise street lighting in the Brown Square area by installing LED lanterns and the relevant number of new columns to support these.
*Hopewell Housing Schemes (SHDP)
Phase 1 (18 homes) completed and handed over to residents in July 2022 and although not yet started, Planning Permission is in place to extend to Phase 2 (28 Units).
Bullring Environmental Improvement Scheme
Work on site commenced on 20 September 2022 and it is anticipated the project will be complete in April 2023. The overall cost includes land transfer (DfI), 3-year maintenance (BCC) and managed service provision.
Belfast Bikes Scheme
Provision of two bike docking stations located at Shankill Leisure Centre and Carlisle Circus, including 14 bicycles and one year’s maintenance and technical costs paid to BCC.
*Hopewell Housing Scheme Phase 2
Planning is in place for 28 mixed tenure homes as part of Phase 2. Expected to commence 2024/25.
*NIHE Depot, Brown Square (SHDP)
Potentially up to 12 units on the site of the NIHE Depot, Brown Square. Expected to commence 2025/26.
*North Boundary Street
Options are currently being explored by NIHE with Shankill BUILD for a potential community-led scheme.
BSC Intervention approximate spend £2.61 million.
*The completed housing schemes to date across the six pilot areas represent an investment of circa £7.2m with approximately £4m being provided through a Housing Association Grant. These schemes would have not been delivered without the BSC intervention.