Urban Regeneration of an MEDC city Case Study: Belfast.

Urban Regenerationof an MEDC city

Case Study: Belfast

Where?

Titanic

Quarter

Why?

What?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8025036.stm

http://www.titanicquarter.com/

Titanic Signature Project - £97m landmark building– ‘Titanic Experience' exhibition– ‘immersive theatre' diving underwater to explore the wreck– a Titanic-themed banqueting suite – community arts facility for local exhibitions & performances– Conference facilities

The Vision

• Titanic Quarter is transforming a 185-acre site on the banks of Belfast's river Lagan into a new mixed use maritime quarter with: over 7,500 apartments, 900,000 sq. m. of business, education, research together with hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars and other leisure uses.

• Titanic Quarter is bringing new life… The site is centred upon former shipbuilding land from which vessels such as the RMS Titanic, Olympic and SS Canberra were launched.

• The Titanic Quarter development is co-promoted by Belfast Harbour and Titanic Quarter Limited. The £7billion development is expected to create at least 25,000 new jobs over the next 15 years. 

Jobs

Housing

The Arc

Environment

Key Terms1. Urban planning – the design of towns and cities

which aims to make them work more effectively for the communities who live there

2. Urban Regeneration - The improvement of run-down areas in towns and cities, bringing social,

economic & environmental benefits

Background3. Where has redevelopment of an inner city are of Belfast been

started? How large an area is being redeveloped? Who is in charge of this project? And why is it needed?

4. What is the estimated cost of this scheme?

Answers3. Titanic Quarter

185 acres – 5 phases (on phase 2 now). Started 2006.Titanic Quarter Limitedinner city brownfield site, old headquarters of Harland and Wolff, abandoned land, derelict buildings, visual eyesore, no little employment

4. Estimated cost £7billion

Employment Opportunities5. What improvements will be made in terms of jobs:

– How many will be created (in construction phase & once completed)

20,000 jobs long term & 15,000 in construction phase– Name 6 different areas of employment that will be created here

Construction, IT & financial services, education, hotels, bars, restaurants, retail, industrial space, film industry

– Give 2 examples of companies already employing people in the Titanic Quarter

Citigroup - financial services business (employs ~1000 & has plans to add 500 more staff)

Premier Inn Hotel

Audi

Belfast Metropolitan College (opens this August)– How you feel these jobs compare to those that would have been in this area in the past?

Very different – manufacturing services, not similar type of employee.

Housing6. How much housing will be created & describe the type of housing planned for Titanic Quarter.

– 7,500 apartments / townhouses – should be housing for approx 30,000 people living there.– Social and affordable housing is planned within the next phase and development will

commence as the economic climate improves

7. Name an area of housing already built here?– The Arc (all 1 to 3 bedroom apartments)

8. What type of customer do you think they are aiming for?– The vision is to create a “sustainable and vibrant community with mixed tenure and mixed

income groups”…but so far it is luxury apartments (aimed at young professionals)

Environment9. Describe in full 3 main ways the environment of this area has been improved

1) Soil remediation – some land of the site is contaminated (polluted). This is from the old ship building industry. Land will be restored. This will mean an improvement for wildlife / vegetation as well as human health.

2) Improvement from visual pollution – old derelict ship building area will be changed into a modern development (mainly housing & commercial). Significant historic buildings (e.g. old Titanic drawing rooms) will be preserved & restored. There will also be landscaping and public art to improve the look of the area.

3) Transportation improvements – bus service to city centre, walkways, cycle routes & plans for a light rapid transport system in future. All with aim of encouraging use of public transport, cutting congestion & pollution.

How Sustainable is it?

Sustainable development = development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It includes three areas:

EnvironmentEconomy Society and people

http://www.titanicquarter.com/

Evaluate the sustainability of an urban planning scheme you have studied. (8)

Tip:• Introduce your case study (few facts about it)

Evaluate the scheme • Positives - explain the positive attempts to improve the three areas

needed for sustainability : (facts for each and elaborate)• Environment • Economy • Society (local people)

• Negatives - explain the negatives of the scheme on the three areas. (facts for each and elaborate)

Environment (More traffic/ affect wildlife)

Economy (credit crunch?)

Society (does it benefit the locals or more wealthy?)

http://www.titanicquarter.com/