Welcome to the Winter 2024 edition of the MAG Newsletter
We have taken the opportunity in this edition of our newsletter to outline a number of areas of our work that may be of interest to you.
A New Term for 'MAG'
MAG’s new term was opened on the 17 January 2024 at a special Induction Workshop event at the Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Centre. The event was held both in-person and online and gathered together the new MAG group (consisting of Chair, 8 MAG Members, and 43 Expert Advisors), as well as the MAG Secretariat and heads of Department. This was an important moment for MAG – it was a chance not only to celebrate the value of the work that has been done so far, but also the importance of working together and of passing on the ‘baton’.
The event was opened by Colum Boyle, Department for Communities Permanent Secretary and his Deputy Secretary John Smith, both of whom recognised and highlighted the ever-increasing importance of MAG and the public and community value it has brought in influencing the planning, design, delivery, and stewardship of better places across Northern Ireland.
MAG’s re-appointed Chair Andrew Haley, together with the new DfC Architect and full-time member of the Secretariat Nicola Donnelly, then welcomed and thanked the heads of Department and the MAG team. This is an important moment for MAG as the Department have commenced a review of the Architecture and Built Environment Policy and MAG has been re-positioned to align with the work of the new Communities, Place and Local Government Group.
MAG’s ability and focus on influencing was highlighted as the key in tackling the issues that we face. The workshop concluded with a series of conversations which focused on the scale, pace, and effectiveness of the influence that MAG can provide as well as how best to harness the inputs of Members, Advisors, and the wide-ranging group of partners within central and government, institutions, industry and communities.
The full list of Chair, Members and Expert Advisors and their wide variety of expertise at MAG’s disposal can be found on our website.
MAG Chair Andrew Haley with MAG members at the induction workshop
MAG Principles Papers
MAG have recently published principles documents for “Inclusive Places” and “Quality of Residential Spaces”. These publications are the outcome of a body of research conducted by MAG on best practice in the design of housing and inclusive places and spaces and are part of a series of documents being produced by MAG to highlight best practice in terms of design for our towns and cities.
MAG principle document ‘Inclusive Places’, which considers the role of inclusive places and spaces in shaping a better built environment for all. This document illustrates key principles that inform the shaping of public spaces that are sustainable, support social interaction and well-being, and support the local economy. The key principles outlined in the document are also supported by exemplar case studies from the UK and Ireland.
The document considers the key role of housing in the built environment, centered around principles of sustainability, well-being and economy, making references to exemplar precedents within the UK and Ireland. The document outlines the importance of quality housing in the development of healthy, attractive and sustainable towns and cities. Each example is set within a different context, under different constraints but all are underpinned by principles that advocate design quality, from space standards to best practice in low energy design. The successes of these principles are distilled into concise points, and whilst the document is not exhaustive in its content, its purpose is to inform readers from all backgrounds and act as an introduction to key principles of quality design. Further references are provided within the document that elaborate on these ideas in greater depth.
Design for Planet
Andrew Haley (MAG Chair) was one of the 130 people who met in-person at the University of East Anglia for Design for Planet, joined by 6,000 on-line, from 93 countries. In the highly sustainable Enterprise Centre building, home to the Tyndall Centre for Climate Research, the focus was on collaboration.
A visit to the RIBA Stirling Award Winning Goldsmith Street, with Architect David Mikhail of Mikhail Riches was really insightful, highlighting how this high-density development of 105 socially rented Passivhaus properties has created a great neighbourhood. This project is featured in the MAG document, Quality of Residential Space.
The founder of Fairphone provided a brilliant challenge to all designers to ensure that ‘things’ whether they are smartphones or buildings are intended to be repaired.
The owner of Bulmer Paints conveyed the importance of ‘gentle chemistry’ and the need to transition to products that are kind to the planet, in this instance instead of traditional paints based on petrochemicals.
Other areas that were featured, included making sharing desirable; community energy projects and building physics.
Over the three days, there were moments of real inspiration. However, the overwhelming sense was of the need to make progress relative to our response to Climate Change faster and at a much greater scale. We are implored to be ‘stubbornly optimistic’ as we all seek to rise to that challenge! The full report on the event by MAG Chair Andrew Haley can be read online.
Leadership for Healthy People and Planet
The "Leadership for Healthy People and Planet" workshop series, organized by the Queen's University Belfast Centre for Public Health (including new MAG Member, Ruth Hunter) in collaboration with Involve, convened in September 2023. The workshops aimed to address the intricate nexus between health, environment, and policy in Northern Ireland. Recognizing the profound impact of environmental factors on public health, particularly among aging populations and in areas of deprivation, the workshops sought to delve into these complexities. Air quality, green spaces, congestion, noise, and other pollutants emerged as crucial determinants of health outcomes, especially as individuals age. It was evident that these challenges often intersect, contributing to widening health inequalities in society.
The workshops brought together an array of stakeholders, including researchers, health professionals, activists, organizations implementing practical solutions, policymakers, advocates, and members of the public. Three workshops were conducted on September 13, 20, and 27 in Belfast City Centre, each focusing on exploring and dissecting how existing issues were being addressed and identifying collaborative pathways across disciplines to achieve holistic outcomes. These sessions were designed as a participative process to comprehensively examine the interconnected facets of health, environment, aging, and policy impacts.
Throughout the workshops, key themes emerged: (1) Complexity of Solutions: The discussions highlighted the multifaceted nature of challenges posed by poor environmental quality and its impact on health. Participants emphasized the need for nuanced, multifaceted solutions that transcend traditional silos. (2) Interconnected Challenges: Attendees underscored the interdependence of health, aging, community planning, and environmental factors. Addressing one facet often yields positive outcomes across various domains. (3) Collaborative Approach: There was unanimous agreement on the necessity of collaboration among diverse stakeholders. To achieve tangible and sustainable results, collective efforts from government bodies, organizations, and communities were deemed indispensable.
The workshops discussed the role of policy recommendations aimed at steering Northern Ireland toward a healthier, more sustainable future. The recommendations should be aimed to encompassed strategies to improve transport infrastructure, enhance green spaces, and promote better housing quality. Moreover, they emphasized the urgency of concerted action in achieving improved health outcomes, reducing health inequalities, and creating more livable communities.
There were 6 recommendations from the workshops:
Knowledge sharing – knowledge sharing is essential for effective translation of data and evidence into policy decisions
Collaboration – meaningful collaboration — from planning through to implementation — is the only effective way of improving outcomes for Environment and Health.
Sustainability – Sustainability is an umbrella concept that offers a way to bring many different parts of the Environment and Health agenda into coherence
Reducing car dependency - Our spaces and places have been designed to accommodate cars, we must change our culture of car dependency and design spaces around the people who live in them.
Community level action incorporating urban design - Plan Places and Spaces for and with the communities that live in and visit those neighbourhoods.
Leadership for change - Leadership is needed to enable all the necessary stakeholders to come together to play a coordinated role in tackling environment and health issues.
The full report of this important event will be published in early February 2024. Please contact the MAG Secretariat for additional information.
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