Minister welcomes a new community led approach to placemaking in the Greater Shankill

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has welcomed a new placemaking approach for the Greater Shankill area of Belfast that will allow everyone in the community the chance to have their say in shaping the physical environment in which they live, work and come together.

As part of a pilot exercise, his department has commissioned Hawthorne Consulting Ltd (CARLIN Planning) to deliver the newly developed ‘Living High Streets Craft Kit’, the aim of which is to help people

voice their needs using a series of engagement sessions to produce a community driven plan for the local area.

This follows on from work undertaken by a group of experienced community leaders in the Greater Shankill area known as the ‘BUILD’ group (Better Understanding in Local Development). BUILD has been focused on tackling physical dereliction and recently embarked on a campaign to encourage the development of sites for housing and community facilities. Members of this group now sit on the newly established Local Action Group which ensures people from the area lead the project.

Minister Lyons said:

 “I am delighted that my department is supporting the Living High Streets Craft Kit initiative in the Greater Shankill. It provides a new community-led ‘ground up’ approach to placemaking where local people are the foundation of any change in their area. It is vital that community needs and issues are understood so that solutions help their area grow and thrive.

"The upcoming series of engagement events will invite conversations on the physical environment where the community will have the opportunity to discuss their ‘place’ and imagine how it could become better. I would sincerely urge and encourage the whole community to participate in this process; have your say on the future of the Greater Shankill.”

The informal sessions will be held throughout the Greater Shankill area over February and March.