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Unused land 'could house 20,000' | Unused land 'could house 20,000' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
More than two square kilometres of wasted land in Belfast could provide housing for more than 20,000 people, a think-tank has said. | |
The Forum for Alternative Belfast said land was lying idle despite the city having a 10-year construction boom. | The Forum for Alternative Belfast said land was lying idle despite the city having a 10-year construction boom. |
"Years of bad or mediocre redevelopment have isolated large swathes of the city," spokesman Mark Hackett said. | "Years of bad or mediocre redevelopment have isolated large swathes of the city," spokesman Mark Hackett said. |
"It's hard to believe that an area the size of 500 football pitches is not being more productively used." | "It's hard to believe that an area the size of 500 football pitches is not being more productively used." |
Mr Hackett said the land was all located within a two kilometre walk of the city centre. | Mr Hackett said the land was all located within a two kilometre walk of the city centre. |
"This important, valuable land could be better-used to make Belfast a more vibrant, cosmopolitan city that isn't disjointed by ad-hoc development," he added. | "This important, valuable land could be better-used to make Belfast a more vibrant, cosmopolitan city that isn't disjointed by ad-hoc development," he added. |
"We want to find out exactly how many people could be living within one and a half miles of the City Hall, however, our preliminary study indicates in excess of 20,000 extra people would comfortably be housed in the fractured inner city. | "We want to find out exactly how many people could be living within one and a half miles of the City Hall, however, our preliminary study indicates in excess of 20,000 extra people would comfortably be housed in the fractured inner city. |
"With that comes the challenge of making new schools, parks and connecting with existing communities in an equitable manner - and doing so with development of enduring built quality." | "With that comes the challenge of making new schools, parks and connecting with existing communities in an equitable manner - and doing so with development of enduring built quality." |
The forum is bringing more than 70 of Belfast's leading architects, engineers, urban planners, arts experts, and community leaders together in a four-day 'summer school' to develop workable ideas to transform the city. | The forum is bringing more than 70 of Belfast's leading architects, engineers, urban planners, arts experts, and community leaders together in a four-day 'summer school' to develop workable ideas to transform the city. |
The 'Fill Up Belfast' project is being held from 17 August until 21 August at Queen's University Belfast. | The 'Fill Up Belfast' project is being held from 17 August until 21 August at Queen's University Belfast. |
"This is an intensive, voluntary effort by over 70 members to show civic leadership in the city," Mr Hackett said. | "This is an intensive, voluntary effort by over 70 members to show civic leadership in the city," Mr Hackett said. |
"The five-day 'think tank' will examine what would happen if we stopped leaving the development of our city to chance and instead started to plan a common vision for how we see ourselves in 2020. | "The five-day 'think tank' will examine what would happen if we stopped leaving the development of our city to chance and instead started to plan a common vision for how we see ourselves in 2020. |
"We want everyone to take part in the wider discussions. | "We want everyone to take part in the wider discussions. |
"Belfast is our city. It's our environment, and it's essential that we create and develop a place that's accessible, connected and safe." | "Belfast is our city. It's our environment, and it's essential that we create and develop a place that's accessible, connected and safe." |
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