Concept plans for Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood site

Five urban regeneration firms have been shortlisted to create concept plans for the former Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood Army Barracks in North Belfast

They will now compete for the job to prepare a master plan for the redevelopment of the site.

Announcing the appointments, Social Development Minister David Hanson MP said: “The Department for Social Development launched an international competition in May to encourage principals of leading urban regeneration consultancies to express their interest in preparing a master plan for the site.

“I am impressed with the response and the quality of the applications submitted. The five companies selected will now use their imagination and experience to prepare concept plans outlining their ideas for a scheme that will truly transform the site. This is an important stage in the master planning process and in identifying how the full regeneration potential of the site can be realised.

“I want to thank Roy Adams and local members of the Advisory Panel for their constructive work to date in helping to advise on these issues.”

Roy Adams, Chair of the local Advisory Panel tasked with taking forward the master planning work, said: “The competition has attracted the interest of leading consultancies with the experience to make the most of this excellent opportunity.

“The five shortlisted companies will be invited to produce concept plans within eight weeks, following which a winning consultant will be appointed to prepare the master plan. The concept plans will form part of a public exhibition to keep local communities informed and to receive their views.”

The Crumlin Road Gaol was transferred to OFMDFM in August 2003 under the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative. It is a Grade A listed building and is considered of international importance in view of its history and architecture. The former Girdwood Army Barracks was transferred to DSD in April 2006.

The two sites comprise some 27 acres and occupy a strategic location by virtue of their proximity to Belfast City centre, providing a unique opportunity to regenerate one of the most disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland.

In September 2005, David Hanson announced that the sites would be developed on a comprehensive basis. He also set up a local Advisory Panel, under the Chairmanship of Roy Adams OBE, to make recommendations to him on a master plan for the sites. The first step in launching the master planning competition involved placing a formal notice in the Official Journal of the European Union seeking expressions of interest.

The competition is a two staged process, the aim of which is to produce the best master planning solution. The competition invited interest from principals of leading urban regeneration consultancies with an international reputation and the requisite expertise and track record to produce a master plan for the regeneration of the sites.

Eleven consultancies expressed an interest and those meeting the eligibility criteria were considered for selection to progress to stage two. The selected consultants are:

At stage two, the shortlisted consultancies will be invited to prepare a concept plan representing an expression of design intent within 8 weeks. A final selection process will result in the appointment of the consultant to prepare the master plan.

The master planning competition is being administered by the Central Procurement Directorate of the Department of Finance and Personnel.

Five urban regeneration firms have been shortlisted to create concept plans for the former Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood Army Barracks in North Belfast.

Pictured during a tour of the site are leading consultants from the five consultancies: Left to right – Hagen Zeisberg (KCAP, Rotterdam), Helen Day (EDAW Plc, London), Tony McGuirk (Building Design Partnership Ltd, London), Colin James (Llewelyn Davies Yeang, London), Peter Vaughan (Broadway Malyan Ltd, London).

Concept plans for Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood site - 25 September 2006

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