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International Masterplanning Competition for Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood Barracks - 12 May 2006

An international master planning competition has been launched for the development of the former Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood Barracks in North Belfast.

Mr Roy Adams, Chair of the Advisory Panel tasked with taking forward the work said:  “The Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood site represents a unique development opportunity for Belfast. The site, comprising some 27 acres, presents the opportunity to develop a truly transformational scheme which can play an important role in the creation of a vibrant new development quarter and contribute to the promotion of Belfast as a premier European capital.”

“The Advisory Panel will now commission an international competition to attract the interest of principals of leading urban regeneration consultancies with the expertise to create the best possible solution for the site. This is a milestone in the future development of the site.”

Referring to the next stages in the process Mr Adams explained that the Advisory Panel will embark on an initial programme of consultation to seek the views of local communities and all other interests.  “We are determined that there is full involvement and consultation throughout the Panel’s work.  We want to secure a future for the site which has widespread support.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1.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.   

2.The two sites comprise some 30 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.

3.In September 2005, David Hanson announced that the sites would be developed on a comprehensive basis and he was setting up a local Advisory Panel to make recommendations to him on a master plan for the sites. The Advisory Panel has met on three occasions. Details of the Panel is attached. The Panel is Chaired by Mr Roy Adams. Mr Adams is an Executive Director with Laing O'Rourke, the international construction Company based in England.

4.The master planning competition is being administered by the Central Procurement Directorate of the Department of Finance and Personnel. The competition will be a two stage process, the aim of which will be to produce the best master planning solution.

5.The first stage will consist of an invitation to consultancies to register their interest in the competition.  Those meeting the eligibility criteria will then be considered for selection as one of a minimum of 5 to progress to stage two.  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.

6.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 interests. This is also being advertised locally in NI.

7.For further information, please contact Aidan Cassidy, Advisory Panel Secretariat on 028 9072 6014. For media enquiries please contact the Information Office on 029 9082 9078.

Crumlin Road Gaol / Girdwood Park Advisory Panel Membership

Chair Ministerial Appointment Roy Adams OBE

Political Reps

DUP Diane Dodds MLA Nelson McCausland MLA

Sinn Fein Gerry Kelly MLA Cllr Danny Lavery

SDLP Cllr Pat Convery

UUP Fred Cobain MLA

Community Reps

Cliftonville CEPManus Maguire

Gt. Shankill Partnership Board John MacVicar

Ardoyne CEPJoe Marley

Gt. New Lodge CEP Paul Roberts

Upper North CEP Ruth Moore

Lower North CEP Ian Crozier

Statutory Bodies Laganside Dev. Corp. Kyle Alexander

Belfast City Council Marie Therese McGivern

Community Relations Council Dr Duncan Morrow

Department of Social Development John McGrath