Welcome to the MAG Spring 2021 Newsletter
After the launch of the MAG Newsletter in January 2021, we now bring you our second and Spring Edition where we focus on a number of areas of our work that we hope will be of interest.
Caption: Belfast Design Week; the Ormeau Parklet was designed by OGU Architects & MMAS Architects
Living High Streets
The changing face of our villages, neighbourhoods, towns and city centres have been a focus of concern for some time – not just in Northern Ireland, but across the rest of the UK, Ireland and beyond. The pandemic has accelerated many of the issues that were already having an impact, such as on-line retail, out-of-town shopping and services, vacant buildings and areas, and the way we use our places and spaces.
As a direct response to requests from across Northern Ireland, in early 2020, MAG established a team, led by Justine Daly (MAG Expert Advisor) to focus on our High Streets. We quickly found ourselves considering how we could embrace the challenges to these vitally important places as a catalyst for change. There is currently an opportunity to shift the perception of the High Street away from the traditional economic model, towards a more complex one that addresses social, environmental (including climate change) and economic sustainability.
MAG is currently working with key stakeholders on this approach and co-producing the Living High Streets Craft Kit. The intention is that the tools in the Craft Kit will facilitate local co-production of unique, people and place specific responses and focus on what makes them distinctive, whilst benefitting from shared knowledge on issues that are common across Northern Ireland. The tools are designed to facilitate collaborative discussions amongst communities (residents, businesses, voluntary groups, service providers, investors, statutory stakeholders - Council, Department for Communities (DfC), Department for Infrastructure (DfI) etc.) to further understand the skills, capacity and needs of people; assess the qualities and assets in places; shape visions and aspirations; and inform decisions about their future.
We are engaging with the recently established High Street Task Force and working with DfC to ensure that efforts are co-ordinated and opportunities to deliver the best outcomes, quickly are capitalised upon.
If you would like to be kept informed of progress, please let us know at magsecretariat@communities-ni.gov.uk
Climate Action
Climate Action and Biodiversity have become ‘hot topics’. Whilst it is now the first and standing item on our Monthly Meeting agenda, MAG is seeking to not only embed these issues at the heart of built environment issues, but to focus on how we can move beyond words to tangible positive outcomes.
Patrice Cairns (MAG Expert) is leading our strategic advisory input across climate change issues within the Department for Communities and Arm’s Length Bodies, working together to achieve positive place outcomes on key strands including housing, heritage and urban regeneration, and supporting integration into the various areas of our work.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss ways of delivering improved Climate Resilience and Biodiversity for your place. We would love to hear about any locally based projects where actions have been championed.
Caption: Mountain Bike trails in Gosford Park
Our Changing World Survey Results
Last May, when COVID-19 and the impact that it was having on society all seemed relatively ‘new’, MAG produced a Survey, aimed at gaining a better understanding of the way that our patterns of life had been changed, relative to our built and natural environment. The Report that was produced, which summarised the survey results shone a spotlight on a wide array of aspects of life. Of those who responded to the Survey, it showed a dramatic shift in how people moved around, swinging from 56% using cars before lockdown to 23%, whilst walking increased to 75%. It highlighted that 90% of respondents considered their private garden spaces to be their most valued places. As we think about our town and city centres, it is perhaps not surprising to find that 65% of people were spending less time shopping in the neighbourhood. You can view the complete summary below.
We are acutely aware that life is not going to ‘go back to normal’ for the foreseeable future and as such we need to continue to understand changing trends. With that in mind, MAG has just launched a ‘follow-up’ Survey, which is a little shorter and more focused than the first.
The results of this will help us to make good decisions about the environment. If you would like to take part in this survey follow the link below which is open until 2 June 2021.
Designing Places for Children and Young People
There has been greater awareness in recent years of the need to make our urban places better for children and young people beyond the simple provision of play areas. We are delighted to have collaborated with Belfast Healthy Cities on this important subject, which culminated on 14 April 2021 with the launch of a new guidance document for Northern Ireland.
Its co-author, James Hennessey (MAG Expert Advisor) was joined by speakers from the Bernard Van Leer Foundation and Cork Healthy Cities in an online seminar where he introduced the guidelines.
The guidance document is aimed at policy and decision makers and all those involved in the planning, design and stewardship of our built environment. It sets out the key principles of child friendly design, draws upon case studies from home and abroad and signposts the reader to a growing body of research.
Derry City & Strabane District Council Collaboration
MAG was delighted to participate in the launch of the City Deal Heads of Terms with Derry City & Strabane District Council on 24 February 2021. This was an exciting day for the North-West, announcing the commitment of funding totalling £250 million. This will include significant investment in the built environment, with new development and work within historic areas.
MAG has been working closely with the Council, leading workshops and providing Design Reviews, in support of their commitment to delivering good placemaking.
If you would like to find out more about the ways in which MAG can collaborate with you, please contact magsecretariat@communities-ni.gov.uk
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