Urban Regeneration of 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 Terms 1. 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 rundown areas in towns and cities, bringing social, economic & environmental benefits Background 3. 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? Answers 3. 4. Titanic Quarter 185 acres – 5 phases (on phase 2 now). Started 2006. Titanic Quarter Limited inner city brownfield site, old headquarters of Harland and Wolff, abandoned land, derelict buildings, visual eyesore, no little employment Estimated cost £7billion Employment Opportunities 5. 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. Housing 6. How much housing will be created & describe the type of housing planned for Titanic Quarter. – – 7. Name an area of housing already built here? – 8. 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 The Arc (all 1 to 3 bedroom apartments) 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) Environment 9. 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: Environment Economy 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/