Minutes:
The Chairperson introduced Mr. P. King. Project Sponsor, and Mr. B. Hassard, Project Manager, representing the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), and Mr. J. McBride, Project Manager, Mr. P. Clarke, UK and Ireland Masterplanning Lead, and Mr. A. Patterson, Landscape Architect, representing AECOM, to the Committee and they were admitted to the meeting.
The representatives reminded the Committee that AECOM had been commissioned to carry out a Placemaking and Active Travel Review (PATR) of the York Street Interchange (YSI) scheme in 2021 and the purpose of the study was to undertake further analysis around placemaking to identify opportunities to deliver benefits for communities, particularly in terms of connectivity and the wider living places agenda and to consider how DfI could maximise the social, economic and environmental benefits of the project and its contribution to the future development of Belfast.
Mr. Clarke advised that this had included an international best practice review, connectivity analysis and stakeholder engagement which had resulted in eleven placemaking guiding themes and thirty-one desired outcomes for the area.
Mr. McBride described the proposals for the new cycle infrastructure across the city and summarised the audit outcomes.
Mr. Clarke and Mr. Patterson informed the Committee of the various placemaking scenarios which had been considered which included mapping and illustrative sketches of the options, together with potential active travel, urban greening and streetscape improvements.
It was reported that the five scenarios had been evaluated against the 11 Guiding Principles, and Mr. Clarke provided an overview of the overall conclusions and recommendations of the refinement and development of three of the scenarios. He pointed out that, as part of the engagement strategy, it was recommended that consideration was given to the potential for a programme of stakeholder consultation, community involvement and co-design that could unlock further local insights, support buy-in and create long term social value.
Mr. Clarke highlighted that, following publication of the report, refinement of placemaking and active travel scenarios had been undertaken, such as the alignment with A Bolder Vision for Belfast and an evaluation of selected place making interventions.
Mr. McBride described the realignment options for the development of the M2 and provided illustrations of the Corporation Street studies.
He explained the potential delivery of the active travel network improvements, together with the next steps in the process. This included: Packaging and Phasing of Delivery; Engagement with Delivery Partners around delivery and long-term maintenance; Cost analysis of the interventions and wider economic benefits assessment; and Further engagement with stakeholders on selected topics. He pointed out that the preferred strategies would be developed for recommendations to the future Department for Infrastructure Minister.
During discussion, the representatives answered a range of questions in relation to the review of the transport objectives, additional costs incurred from the initial estimates since 2015, the delivery of the cycle network, the redevelopment of Cityside, the need to increase the daytime economy and the importance of the communities, the alignment to the bolder vision and traffic management issues.
In relation to the impact of the development on the Stella Maris Hostel situated in the area, Mr. McBride advised that there were no plans to demolish the building in the current plans.
During further discussion, regarding the potential for social housing in the scheme, Mr. Clarke advised that initial meetings had taken place with the Housing Executive but decisions on the type of housing was yet to be confirmed.
The representatives advised that they would provide further details in relation to releasing the findings of the Review of the Strategic Transport Objectives and the timeline for the implementation of cycle lanes on the Limestone Road.
After discussion, the Chairperson thanked the representatives for their attendance and they retired from the meeting.
Proposal
Moved by Councillor O’Hara,
Seconded by Councillor Ferguson,
Resolved - The Committee agrees to write to the Department for Infrastructure and ask them to review the Strategic Transport Objectives of the York Street Interchange, in light of these objectives being set in 2008 and prior to the declaration of a Climate Emergency by this Council, the NI Assembly and the passage of the Climate Act. The Committee also agrees to request that the Department share the Assurance Review of the York Street Interchange which was provided to the Minister in March 2021.
Accordingly, the Committee:
· Noted the information which had been provided and that, where relevant, DfI would provide further information on the issues raised;
· Agreed to write to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to request that it reviewed the Strategic Transport Objectives of the York Street Interchange. in light of the objectives being set in 2008 and prior to the declaration of a Climate Emergency by the Council and the NI Assembly, and the passage of the Climate Act; and
· Requested that DfI share the Assurance Review of the York Street Interchange which was provided to the Minister in March 2021.