Welcome to the MAG Newsletter
Welcome to the very first edition of the MAG newsletter where we hope to share information about what we are doing, those whom we are working with and invite organisations and individuals to engage with us across a range of issues. Together, we are working to make a real difference to places, whether cities, towns, streets, neighbourhoods, parks or wild landscapes. This Newsletter will be a way of allowing us to share information with you across the year.
Our Website
MAG would like to invite you to visit our newly updated website where you can find our latest news and information. We have become increasingly aware of the importance of better communicating the issues that we are engaged with, as we seek to work collaboratively, particularly in these difficult times.
Our MAG Principles
Over the last year, MAG has started working on a series of work streams which we have called our MAG Principles.
These Principles have various outputs and cover a range of topics, which we believe are important to NI Government Departments, NI Councils, Design Teams, Developers and the broader community in Northern Ireland. We will bring you updates on these issues and more in future Newsletters.
The first topics in this series will include:
- How MAG can help
- Heritage and Sustainable Development
- Living High Streets
- Mixed Tenure Housing
- Quality of Residential Space
- Places and Inclusion
- Streets, Transport and the Built Environment
New Briefing and Design Review Guidance
MAG has produced an updated ‘Briefing and Design Review’ guidance document aimed at developers, promoters, project teams, planning authorities and district councils.
MAG can also facilitate training workshops that will encourage use of the process to deliver the best outcomes. If you would like to arrange a workshop or a Design Review you can contact the MAG Secretariat for more information on these training workshops.
Launch of MAG Matters
Our Annual Conference was planned for the spring-time of 2020, but like so many other events this too had to be postponed. As part of our ongoing commitment to sharing knowledge across Northern Ireland and with those from further afield, we invited our speakers to share some of their insights in a new series of online talks we have called MAG Matters.
First up in the series of our online talks we have presentations and a Q&A with our speakers – Bob Allies, Founding Partner of Allies & Morrison Architects and Patricia Bartoli, Head of City Centre Growth and Regeneration at Manchester City Council.
You can view these short videos which we hope you find insightful and we welcome your thoughts on any of the issues raised.
Better Bedford Street
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and MAG jointly led a fascinating and challenging initiative that was termed "Better Bedford Street". It was a collaborative effort working with the Strategic Design Group alongside a Steering Group comprising Belfast City Council, RSUA, ICE, Linen Quarter Business Improvement District and PLACE.
The project was to pilot a way of working that applied the Qualities of Living Places: Urban Stewardship & Design Guide, which was quick and temporary, allowing lessons to be learned which could inform future, sustainable investment.
Check out the DfI website for more information on this and get in touch with us if you have a pilot project that you are thinking about and would find insights helpful.
Festival of Place
On 12 November 2020 our Chairperson Andrew Haley joined with the three other heads of national design advisory groups from across the UK to speak at the Festival of Place. This was the first time that the four organisations have shared a public platform, bringing their respective perspectives on placemaking issues.
This event usually takes place in London, but this year, like many other events the Festival of Place was delivered on a virtual platform. Lara Kinneir, one of our MAG Members Chaired a discussion with the Design Council, Architecture + Design Scotland, Design Commission for Wales and MAG. This highlighted many similarities across the regions, including the focus on regeneration of our high streets, whilst recognising that for each the means of delivery needs to be tailored.
Have you received this Newsletter from a friend? Subscribe to our stakeholder list and receive updates directly from MAG.
Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7EG
