Social Development – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:30 pm on 10 November 2008.
3. asked the Minister for Social Development what advice she received and the direction she gave, in relation to the development of the site of the former Andersonstown RUC barracks in the immediate aftermath of the withdrawal of commercial development proposals by the Carvill Group. (AQO 1042/09)
I was disappointed by the withdrawal of the Carvill Group’s proposals on 4 October 2007. Those proposals — which emerged through a competitive process that was followed by consultative procedure — incorporated a mixed development that had a residential and substantial community element. Subsequently, I received a great deal of advice, both solicited and unsolicited, from inside Government and externally. Much of the external advice called for more consultation and for the site to be gifted to the community. However, there were precious few positive ideas.
Moreover, I considered a range of options for the development of the former Andersonstown barracks site. I decided to broaden the brief to focus on the economic regeneration of the Andersonstown gateway area, in line with the priority given to growing the economy in the Executive’s draft Programme for Government and the final Programme for Government. I announced the way forward on that initiative on 20 November 2007. Possibly one of the most interesting and best proposals to emerge from the consultation was for a community police station to be based on the site. Some members of the public wanted that, which reflects the level of crime and antisocial behaviour in west Belfast.
Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I take umbrage at the Minister’s remark about the level of antisocial behaviour in West Belfast. The problem of antisocial behaviour is no more or no less severe in West Belfast than anywhere else, and the Minister should retain perspective.
Does the Minister agree that the Department has completely mismanaged its dealings in respect of Andersonstown barracks? Will the Minister confirm that she proposed to proceed with another commercial development following the Carvill Group’s withdrawal? I have acquired a document, under freedom of information legislation, which indicates that she agreed to go ahead with another commercial development after notifying a second developer. That blatantly ignores the consensus for the site to be developed for community use to be determined by local people.
I ask the Member to put a question to the Minister.
Did the Minister propose another commercial development on the site following her Department’s disgraceful actions in respect of the Carville Group?
The Member seems to be under some misapprehension — I have no predetermined plans for the future use of the barracks site. The Andersonstown barracks site is one of several sites being considered in the context of the gateway feasibility study. The purpose of that study is to develop various options that can be considered for future action in the context of the wider economic regeneration of the Andersonstown gateway area. It is probably too early to consider the development of any of those sites.
The West Belfast Partnership Board is part of the relevant steering group, which political parties were asked to join. Representatives of both Sinn Féin and the SDLP were asked to participate — the SDLP participated, but Sinn Féin did not. It may not be too late for Sinn Féin to decide to participate fully in a community process that it claims to yearn for so earnestly.
What practical steps has the Minister taken to achieve regeneration at the Andersonstown barracks site and throughout Belfast more generally?
The Andersonstown gateway project has been chaired by Pádraic White, who has done much for regeneration and economic development on the island of Ireland. I will receive those proposals for consideration soon.
On the wider policy of regeneration, the Member alludes to the sequential policy for taking forward large retail-led regeneration schemes in Belfast city centre, which requires my Department’s support. That policy has delivered the £400 million Victoria Square scheme this year, and it is on course to deliver the £360 million Royal Exchange scheme by 2014. People have said that the pace of delivery that the policy has achieved in Belfast compares favourably with that achieved in any other city that has undertaken regeneration schemes of such magnitude. However, nothing is set in stone. I am prepared to evaluate the policy and assess the impact of the sequential approach to regeneration within Belfast city centre and outside Belfast.