Storey encourages communities in Belfast and Ballymena to have their say

Social Development Minister, Mervyn Storey MLA, is encouraging residents to have their say on the future regeneration of six pilot areas in Ballymena and Belfast.

The pilot areas, through the ‘Building Successful Communities Programme’, have established Regeneration Forums which have been pivotal in developing housing-led action plans, tailored to each pilot area’s specific needs. These plans have been developed to tackle blight, deprivation and difficulty in the local housing market and aims to use housing intervention as one of the main catalysts for local regeneration.

The six pilot areas are:

• Doury Road, Ballymena
• Lower Falls, Belfast
• Lower Shankill and Brown Square, Belfast
• Lower Oldpark and Hillview, Belfast
• Lenadoon and Glencolin, Belfast and
• Tigers Bay and Mountcollyer, Belfast

Calling on local people to take an interest in the new plans, Minister Storey said: “Since its inception, the Building Successful Communities Programme has sought to bring a fresh approach to regenerating communities. Forums in each area have already been closely involved in the identification of their regeneration priorities which has aided external consultants Turley to develop draft plans for each area.

“I want to make sure we hear the views of local residents at each stage of the process, and in particular as we work to finalise action plans that I hope will help transform these communities.”

A number of community drop in sessions have been organised in each area where local residents will be able to view the plans.

Residents will have an opportunity to provide written feedback and, on specific dates, representatives from Turleys and the Department for Social Development (DSD) will be on hand to discuss the plans in more detail.

Minister Storey continued: “I would encourage residents within these pilot areas to come along to the community feedback sessions and tell us what you think. Only through hearing your views can we hope to achieve real and meaningful change and bring about the Programme’s goals of providing better homes, better places to live, better places to work and better opportunities for everyone.”

The times and location of each session, including times when Turley and DSD representatives will be present, can be found on the Building Successful Communities page.

Notes to editors: 

1. Each pilot area has a community based Forum which includes local residents’ groups, elected representatives and statutory bodies.
2. Community drop in sessions will be held on:
   Lower Shankill and Brown Square
   2 – 11 November Lower Shankill Community Association premises
   12 – 16 November BEAT Carnival

   Lower Falls
   4 November – 18 November: Falls Road Library

   Lower Oldpark and Hillview
   11 November – 25 November: VINE Centre
   Lower Oldpark Community Association premises

   Doury Road
   16 – 30 November: Ballymena North Recreation Centre

   Lenadoon and Glencolin
   18 November – 2 December: Stewartstown Road Regeneration Offices

   Tigers Bay and Mountcollyer
   20 – 27 November Duncairn Community Centre
   30 November – 4 December Grove Housing Association

   Office opening hours may apply

3. Media enquiries to DSD Press Office on 028 9082 9468 or e-mail press.office@dsdni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned. 

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