Belfast - issues and challanges in a MEDC Flashcards
Redevelopment - definition
When an area is demolished and redesigned. In the inner city this might mean that a street of terraced houses is knocked down and replaced with a block of flats or other cheap housing
Regeneration - definition
When an area is upgraded. The aim is to improve the social and economic conditions. It happens in areas with issues of dereliction, pollution and out-migration. It might involve restoring old buildings and redesigning them for a different use
Gentrification - definition
When an area is demolished and upgraded, attracting richer people to live in the new, modern, expensive properties
Which areas in Belfast have the highest rates of deprivation?
According to the most recent Northern Ireland ‘Multiple Deprivation Report’, some areas of highest relative deprivation in Northern Ireland were found in inner city areas - the Falls, New Lodge, Shankhill, Crumlin Road, Ardoyne, Upper Springfield and Whiterock
Economic deprivation data
Unemployment - the current unemployment rate in Northern Ireland is 5.9%. The rate for Belfast is 7.4% (13,816 people). In north Belfast it reaches 16.9% in Duncairn and 13.5% in New Lodge, while in west Belfast’s Shankill is at 13.5%
Further aspects of economic deprivation
The amount of incapacity benefit, income support, housing benefit, pension credits and disability allowance paid to residents
Social deprivation data
Free schooling meals - This is a guide to the number of families who are on low incomes. In 2012/13, 40% (5333) of students attending secondary (non-grammar) schools received free meals. This compared to 7.4% of grammar school students
School attendance - another measure used is absenteeism (% of total half days) at secondary schools. in 2013 the Falls recorded 8.8%; Duncairn and Shankill were both at 11.2%
Further aspects of social deprivation
A final measure of deprivation is the proportion of working-age adults with no qualifications. For example, in north Belfast’s Water Works 32% of the population have no qualifications; in Duncairn the rate is 41%.
The people in these areas are in a cycle of poverty and struggling to break out of it. Disadvantaged children are more likely to fail at school, will leave with few qualifications and will be less likely to get a good job
Re-urbanisation
Re-urbanisation is movement of people back into an area that had previously been abandoned. The key feature of any re-urbanisation is that people from the suburbs or from outside the city will make a decision to move back into the city. Usually the stimulus for any movement will come as a result of government intervention to improve an area. The development of the Titanic Quarter (also an example of gentrification) are both attempts to re-urbanise areas of Belfast that experienced serious decline
Titanic Quarter Key aims
Building up to 5,000 dwellings, the creation of a high-quality business area, commercial development, Titanic signature project, a major educational - third-level campus (Belfast Metropolitan College), restoration and conservation of the former Harland and Wolf headquarters, the creation of hotels and other tourist accommodation, the development of new leisure facilities - restaurants - cafes/bars - health bars
Positive features of gentrification
- Houses will be improved - old dilapidated buildings will be regenerated
- House values will increase
- New businesses to service the new, richer community will be set up
- Crime rates can fall
Negative features of gentrification
- A high demand for houses can cause problems
- increased house prices mean that original residents are stuck in the area or move out, and their children cannot afford to live in the same area
- There can be conflict between the original and new residents
Laganside pt 1
The Laganside development started at the Lagan Weir, which is used to control the amount of water in the river upstream. The Laganside Corporation became responsible for developing 140 hectares of land alongside the River Lagan and 70 hectares in the Cathedral Quarter.
By the time the project was completed the Corporation estimated that over 14,200 permanent jobs had been created. A total investment of £939 million resulted in the creation of 213,000 m(squared) of office space, 83,000 m(squared) of retail and leisure space and 741 housing units
Laganside pt 2
Some houses in the Mays Meadow area and a Lands End Street, Laganview Street and Newfoundland Street were removed and new apartment blocks were put in their place.
Many of the communities who lived beside the laganside development felt that they had been ignored and felt no positive impact from the regeneration
