Bogside, Fountain & Bishop Street

DERRY~ LONDONDERRY STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

August 2016 DERRY~

LONDONDERRYURBAN VILLAGES INITIATIVE DERRY~ LONDONDERRY

1 INTRODUCTION 01

2 BOGSIDE, FOUNTAIN AND BISHOP ST TODAY 19

3 THE FUTURE 55

4 SUPPORTING DELIVERY 102

01INTRODUCTION

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 1 INTRODUCTION

1 PURPOSE OF DOCUMENT This Strategic Framework is intended to provide a reference point for anyone involved in shaping investment decisions or identifying collaborative opportunities in the Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street Urban Village area. The Framework presents findings from a creative process of analysis and reflection which involved individual members of the community, as well as representatives from local and central government. It provides an analysis of place and is a tool for informing action and investment.

The Framework is intended to be used as a working document so that emerging opportunities can be identified and changing circumstances acknowledged.

It begins by presenting information on what the Urban Villages Initiative is, what it is trying to achieve and how it will work.

Section 2 then sets out the local context and presents key findings under three headings - strengths, symptoms and causes.

Section 3 looks towards the future and sets out Strategic Actions which emerged through the process of engagement, evidence gathering and analysis. These can help to inform future investment plans as well as identifying opportunities for alignment of effort and collaboration around shared outcomes.

Section 4 focuses on delivery. The Executive Office will take forward projects and programmes within its remit, and work with others to progress opportunities for shared delivery of outcomes, in keeping with the approach articulated in the draft Programme for Government Framework.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 3 WHAT IS THE URBAN VILLAGES 1 INITIATIVE?

The Urban Villages Initiative is a key action within the Northern Ireland Executive’s ‘Together: Building a United Community’ Strategy. It is designed to improve good relations outcomes and to help develop thriving places where there has previously been a history of deprivation and community tension. Improve the physical environment

Build community capacity

4 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street There are three inter-connected aims:

• to foster positive community identities 1 • to build community capacity

• to improve the physical environment.

In working towards these aims, a key delivery mechanism will be aligning and influencing investment and finding better ways of ‘doing more with what we’ve got’. The goal is to enable current and future investment to be targeted and delivered in more effective and sustainable ways. In practice this will mean: Foster positive • co-ordinating and aligning effort across community identities Government Departments, local Councils and community organisations to deliver good relations outcomes

• identifying and building on what is working because sustainable change requires investment in social (people and communities) and in physical assets

• exploring ways of investing and trying new approaches which stimulate private investment and economic activity. Build community capacity

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 5 3 Objectives and Outcomes In order to focus effort and set a clear route to delivery, a set of objectives and outcomes will inform investment decisions and actions. Improve the physical environment

Build community capacity

6 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 3

Foster positive community identities

Build community capacity

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 7 PLACES Delivery will be focussed on five ‘core’ areas in:

• Ardoyne and Greater Ballysillan (North Belfast) • Bogside, Fountain and 1 Bishop Street (Derry~Londonderry) Core Area • Colin (West Belfast) • EastSide (East Belfast) • Sandy Row, Donegall Pass and the Markets (South Belfast)

The core area provides a focal point for action and investment. The concept of a wider area of influence, that is not sharply defined, acknowledges that thriving places require wider connection to both physical and social assets. Investment decisions and actions will be informed by the likely impact on core areas.

Area of Influence

8 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street Strategic Actions Transform places Motivate, support and The Strategic Actions in this • Tackle dereliction and vacancy inspire our young people Framework document are • Create a well designed, • Encourage youth intended to inform discussion sustainable and thriving place engagement opportunities about how to best deliver • Maximise connections • Support multi-discipline positive outcomes in each place. • Create effective shared space activity In order to ensure that expertise • Address challenges of • Increase support for is harnessed at a neighbourhood interface walls 1 lifelong learning level, local Reference Groups are being developed - to provide a first point of contact and Build a more resilient and self Celebrate and promote sense-check for project ideas, sufficient community to build civic stewardship and cultural diversity sustainability around specific • Develop and promote social enterprise and entrepreneurship • Promote and develop a interventions and to ensure that programme of festivals, delivery is built from shared • Improve and increase allotments community gardens and growing events and cultural activity priorities. • Celebrate and foster cultural diversity Health and well being • Encourage partnerships with local, national and • Encourage participation in international organisations sport and physical activity • Support and sustain positive lifestyle choices Maximise tourism offering • Collaborate to tackle social isolation • Unlock latent tourism offer • Creatively re-use/ conserve physical assets Enterprising communities • Increase the spin-off benefits of existing tourism • Connect and collaborate • Increase education, training & employment opportunities

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 9 INTRODUCING THE PLACE 1

Lecky Road

THE GASYARD CENTRE

Bishop Street

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CITY WALLS

Wapping

Lane

Bishop Street

RIVERVIEW PARK

The core area encompasses the Its tight knit hilly terraced streets rise Fountain, Bogside and Bishop Street to its western boundary – the areas. Located just beyond Derry’s Lonemoor Road, an offshoot of historic walls, these are unique and the Old Letterkenny Road. distinctive places that reflect their strong cultural identities. The Fountain is discrete and contained, bounded by the walled city on the Panoramic views from the city north, Bishop Street (interface) on walls take in the relatively low lying the northwest, and Carlisle Road and Bogside area to the west. Abercorn Road on the southeast.

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 11 METHODOLOGY

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The process that informed this area. Between January and March This informed the findings and Strategic Framework began with an 2016 the Urban Villages team engaged Strategic Actions in parallel with the in-depth analysis process involving with local people, community groups valuable contributions and participation desktop research, site appraisal and and wider stakeholders from both the throughout the process. extensive stakeholder consultation. public sector and local business through This included 1-to-1 meetings, a series of workshop events. During A Reference Group was established as workshops, surveys, focus groups the ‘Visiting the Neighbours’ walking an informal group of stakeholders in and public events. workshop each participant tied gold April 2016 as an expansion of a previous ribbons to their ‘Top Ten’ favourite DSD led steering group. This includes The findings from each stage helped places and spaces in the area, and key statutory, community and traders’ to ensure this Framework is specific purple ribbons to ten things needing voices. This Reference Group provides to the place and people. It seeks a helping hand. This demonstrated a point of contact for continued to build on what is working and will increased civic pride by collectively engagement, sharing of information continue to progress positive change identifying and agreeing the area’s top for dissemination within the wider to bring about real transformation, assets and opportunities. community. whilst significantly improving the living environment and area. A range of issues were explored in more A commitment to sustained consultation depth. These included, for example, and engagement with all local Central to the methodology was the role of illumination and lighting in stakeholders is made for all stages of engagement with the people who regeneration; children’s play spaces; delivery and as such this is a working live, work and spend time in the community gardens and allotments; document forming the basis for and the role of business associations. discussion and delivery.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 13 1 CONSULTATION A wide variety of engagement events, Over 2000 people attended various one to one consultation meetings, and Spring Festival events with 296 people AND ENGAGEMENT supporting research surveys highlighted completing the Spring Festival Survey. the area’s existing strengths, All events were positively received Key to the project possibilities, and needs. reinforcing the contribution that arts methodology was & culture can make to this area and The process included 302 people who demonstrating its future potential. engagement with the played their part in nine interactive, people who live, work and inquiry and co-creative workshops, two Five community led events included of which were delivered as part of a a film project by Cathedral Youth spend time in the area. Peace Walls Project conference. Club documenting Fountain resident’s hopes and aspirations. Following cross 141 people responded to a community community consultation delivered by relations survey during Culture Night Gasyard Wall Féile and Londonderry 2015. This informed a presentation Bands Forum, scripts for theatre at a Derry City and Strabane District projects on the Easter Rising and Battle Council (DCSDC) Community Relations of The Somme were developed and and Cultural Awareness event, in written for performance later in the collaboration with Urban Villages in year. Health & wellbeing events across support of the Peace Walls Project. the neighbourhood saw 400+ people of all ages participate in a wide Seasonal cultural events such as the range of sporting, fitness and holistic Christmas Market and Spring Festival therapy events. also achieved wider engagement and captured views from people about the places where they live. A ‘Christmas tree survey’ attracted 75 respondents and 17 ‘vox-pop’ contributors.

14 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 1 512 5 1

SURVEY COMMUNITY STREET SOCIETY RETURNS LED EVENTS

9 2 125+

WORKSHOP CONSULTATION FESTIVALS EVENTS MEETINGS

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 15 STREET SOCIETY Three Street Society projects were Cultural Activations delivered in the area over a week explored possibilities for transforming in March 2016. Three groups of 20-22 Hawkin Street in the Fountain architecture, engineering and – into an Arts and Cultural Hub. The anthropology students from client group included representatives Queen’s University Belfast worked of Londonderry Bands Forum, Bob with community client representatives Harte Memorial Trust, Blue Eagle to tackle current challenges and Theatre Productions and Solus suggest solutions. Cultural Productions. Within the week the students had presented an entirely 1 The projects produced information, plausible three phase concept. recommendations and opportunities to help community groups look at A Youthful Landscape potential opportunities and also explored possibilities around Lecky informed the Strategic Actions within Road Flyover. Gasyard Development this Strategic Framework. Trust, Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum, and Dove House The Bishops Return as client group saw the Flyover involved working with the Peace transformed into an urban green Walls project to explore a series of space, a skateboarding park below, new gable end structures into the as a grass roofed Healthy Living interface - each equipped with a Centre morphed out of the new gate fronting Bishop Street and urban green-space. the Fountain Estate, to facilitate through movement when desired.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 17 18 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 02BOGSIDE, FOUNTAIN AND BISHOP STREET TODAY

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 19 Bogside The area’s name is derived from boggy Panoramic views from just about silting due to a retreating River Foyle everywhere show off its tight network & Bishop Street evacuating its former route around the of historic, terraced hilly streets. island ‘Hill of Derry ’. Distinctive tessellated street patterns run uphill from Lecky Road to Lonemoor Road. Similarly at Bishop Street these frame views towards a majestic River Foyle.

20 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street Fountain The Fountain is home to a residential Bounded to the north by the historic community of around 300 people. A Derry walls, a brick built interface wall legacy from days when the city was the divides it from Bishop Street and Upper shirt making capital of the British Isles is Bennett Street to the west and south. a collection of former shirt factories and associated workers’ housing.

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Historic Development

Located in the northwest of the island of Ireland, tucked away between the 1685 Sperrin Mountains and Inishowen Hills, within the Foyle’s hilly valley, the Fountain, Bogside & Bishop Street area is geographically and topographically isolated within the city.

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The adjacent Walled City’s reputation as By the time of the Siege of Derry in a signature tourist destination continues 1689, expansion beyond the city walls to grow. The Walled City is the first boundaries shows clearly the emerging example of true urban planning in Ireland alignment of Bishop Street and 1780 and the only remaining intact walled Fountain Street. This gives both streets city on the island. With a street grid considerable historic significance. pattern of European, classical origins, it is also the jewel in the crown of Ulster Bishop Street is a major arterial route Plantation’s collection of urban heritage. between the two cathedral towns of Derry and Raphoe. It has a rich story to tell of journeys made by the bishops.

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The footprint of the Urban Village area at its most dense. This condensed development footprint, which persisted into the 1960s ensured a lively street life and still accommodated considerable open space – 1905 some of it agricultural. Former residents recount that ‘Old Rossville Street was a great street’. Others remember when every street in the Bogside was full of music, with enough musicians of its own to form a band.

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Comparison between 2016 and 1905 figure-ground maps (previous) reveals that while substantial tracts of the area’s Plantation and 19th century historic street pattern is still evident, the density of development 2016 within the area has been substantially eroded. This is due to insertion of 1970s roads infrastructure, construction of lower density post 1960s public housing, and more recent building demolition, especially along the river.

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 27 Green spaces, gap sites and surface car parks

There are extensive open spaces in the area that provide recreational and visual amenity. However due to topography, perceived and physical barriers some of these have limited 2 benefits for the residents of the area.

The existing green spaces within the core area are identified on the adjacent plan. These are concentrated on the grassy banking that slopes up the city walls and Long Tower Church, Bull Park, Riverview Park and the Gasyard Park. There is also a riverside park which is a city wide amenity, although it would benefit from improvements. There is also a linear riverside park at Foyle Road. There are pleasant spacious grounds at Lumen Christi College although relatively inaccessible. Brooke Park is located northwest of the area and will reopen after a £5.6m make-over in 2016. In addition, there are many smaller green open spaces in the area.

The adjacent plan also identifies a number of gap sites and/or surface car parks which have the potential for future change. These vary in ownership, scale and potential.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 29 2

30 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 2 pedestrian routes and Safety and perceived safety also impact on the routes people barriers to movement choose to walk and factors may include the levels of lighting, There are various barriers to movement extent of vacant buildings and through the area both physical and sites, traffic speeds and fear of perceived. This analysis has been falling debris from buildings in poor informed by participants in workshops repair. Topography is also a barrier when the most commonly walked especially to elderly, adults with routes were mapped which revealed small children and people that many residents faced a variety of with disabilities. barriers while going about their daily routine i.e. going to school, work and shopping. These include Lecky Road dual carriageway, the city walls, steep embankments, the Bishop Street interface, and palisade security fences around buildings and between housing developments.

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 31 Strengths The engagement process and analysis identifies many positive aspects and strengths that include people, activities and places which are summarised over the following pages. 2 STRATEGIC COMMUNITY LOCATION SPIRIT

BUILT HERITAGE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE

32 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 2 CULTURAL FESTIVALS & HERITAGE EVENTS

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 33 STRATEGIC When it comes to location this place has it, lying close to stunning LOCATION countryside and coastal landscapes, and a stone’s throw from the Wild Atlantic Way.

Less than five minutes walk takes residents to the heart of the city centre and the associated facilities. The area 2 is also right beside the River Foyle and Northern Ireland’s largest scheduled monument, the four hundred year old city walls.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 35 BUILT A number of historic streets fall within with purple ribbons through the the Historic City Conservation Area. engagement process - as things in HERITAGE Though suffering varying degrees of need of a helping hand. dereliction, these streets are the most visible and tangible expression of Collectively, they are a legacy of the area’s architectural heritage thriving 19th and early 20th century past and present. shirt making activity in the area. The Fountain Estate contains two The built heritage in the area is of B+ listed former shirt factories and varying quality and states of repair associated worker’s housing. These however it all contributes to the tell the story of the city that was 2 sense of place. Much of the built the global capital of shirt making heritage in poor repair was highlighted in its heyday.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 37 2 COMMUNITY SPIRIT

The events and community engagement process identifies a strong sense of belonging and community spirit in the area with resilient groups and many stories shared. This reflects the essence of a great community, a place where people know how to support each other and care for those in need.

There has been a resurgence in traditional crafts such as knitting, patchwork, crochet, and jewellery making via initiatives including Keep Her Knit and Crafty Corner. Also Men’s Shed and increased interest in growing food in the local allotments are also providing opportunities for activities to increase community spirit.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 39 COMMUNITY An inspiring spirit of self-help is at Cross-community interaction has the root of the area’s community laid solid foundations for strong INFRASTRUCTURE organisations. Emerging from the relationships developing between worst years of conflict, sustained and within the local community. collaborative grass roots work created a host of robust, established Initiatives including TRIAX, The organisations serving Gasyard Development Trust, Dove a wide range of needs. House, Bogside Brandywell Health Forum, Cathedral Youth Club, 2

40 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street Bogside and Brandywell Initiative, the Derry Credit Union, Pilots Row Community Centre, North West Cultural Forum and Holywell Trust provide scope and inspiration for further positive collaborative work and development.

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42 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street CULTURAL The city has been a hotbed of including the acclaimed Colmcille creativity for many years producing Ladies Choir and flute bands including HERITAGE internationally acclaimed artists, the William King Memorial Flute Band musicians, playwrights, poets and are among the other acts from the writers. High levels of creativity and area that have achieved national and energy again bubbled to the surface international success. in the aftermath of conflict resulting in a wide number of culture and arts Dance in all its forms remains strong facilities across the fields of sport, art, in the area with Irish dancing, drama and history. This remains highland dance, ballet, hip-hop a relatively unexploited jewel and contemporary dance classes in the area’s cultural tourism offer. proving especially popular. 2

From famous Irish tenor, Josef Locke to Also the former St Columb’s College influential punk band, The Undertones, on Bishop St (now Lumen Christi the area punches well above its weight, College) has schooled several consistently producing top class literary giants including Nobel musicians over the years. Songwriters Laureate Seamus Heaney and including Declan McLaughlin, Roy the world renowned playwright Arbuckle and Eamon Friel, choirs Brian Friel.

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FESTIVALS The area is well known for its love of celebratory events. Home & EVENTS to two of the city’s largest festivals, Maiden City Festival and Gasyard Wall Féile, the neighbourhood was a key location for many of the largest City of Culture events in 2013 including The Return of Colmcille, Lumiere, Walled City Marathon.

The Bogside, Bishop Street and Fountain neighbourhood is a perfect arena for both indoor and outdoor cultural events.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 45 CHALLENGES Unsurprisingly all three neighbourhoods face similar challenges. Adjacent to the city centre, they all express the city’s evolving historic development phases, social and economic contexts. 2 DERELICTION LIMITED AND VACANCY ACCESS

46 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 2 SOCIAL PERCEPTION ISOLATION

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 47 DERELICTION There are concentrated areas of Of almost 800 buildings examined in AND VACANCY dereliction and vacancy in the area, the Urban Village area, 36 have been including Meenan Square, Hawkin identified as being ‘at risk’ and in Street and Wapping Lane. These cause need of priority repair. These ‘at risk’ blight and become an economic and buildings are mostly located within the physical eyesore for residents and Fountain and Chamberlain Street areas. visitors alike due to poor states of repair and vacancy.

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48 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street The scale of the opportunity varies from coincides with vacancy, is a priority individual properties to extensive sites given the extent and prominence with various land owners and different of derelict properties close to the levels of work required to bring these city centre. opportunities forward. Addressing dereliction, particularly where this

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 49 2

LIMITED Weak inter-regional infrastructure links At a local level, access is limited due persist and proposals to improve the to the physical and perceived barriers ACCESS road and rail networks are paramount in the area as explained earlier in this to improving access to the city. This section. This includes infrastructure access would create better conditions such as the Lecky Road flyover and for improved business development, dual carriageway, Craigavon Bridge, job creation, tourism and potential the city walls, River Foyle, steep commuting opportunities to other embankments, the Bishop Street places where employment options interface, and palisade security and availability are greater. fences around buildings and between housing developments, topography and level of safety. Also the cost of public transport restricts access to and from the area.

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SOCIAL The effects of conflict and changing Isolation, loneliness and health demographic patterns, have, over continue to be a feature in today’s ISOLATION time, resulted in physical changes society. In the TRIAX area a recent to neighbourhoods. The erection survey by the Bogside and Brandywell of walls, security fences, gates on Health Forum suggests that 1 in 3 of back alleys, and ‘gated communities’ participants (aged 60- 90) live alone. are a noticeable physical change Almost one in five of those surveyed throughout. The physical and reported they did not socialise perceived barriers in the area outside their homes because of segregate neighbourhoods a lack of motivation. regardless of cultural background and contribute to social isolation. Other health challenges include; obesity, mental health, drugs & alcohol and a lack of exercise.

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PERCEPTION Anti-social behaviour in the area has The Urban Villages Spring Festival reduced substantially in recent times Survey 2016, receiving 296 responses, owing to the collective efforts of reveals over 36% of residents residents and organisations, offering still believe the area is perceived a range of intervention programmes negatively by both local residents to encourage and enable more and those not living in the area. positive behaviour. Positive perception and expression is challenged annually however, during the summer bonfire season.

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03THE FUTURE

‘Our Beautiful Place’ acrostic poem, created by participants at Urban Villages Initiative workshop.

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 55 STRATEGIC ACTIONS

The Strategic Actions have been developed through a comprehensive process of information gathering, analysis and extensive engagement with a wide and diverse audience. They seek to build on what is working, highlighting opportunities for sustaining positive change. 3 Each of the Strategic Actions sits within one of seven overarching themes and will lead to various projects and/or alignment with other projects. BUILD A MORE RESILIENT AND SELF-SUFFICIENT TRANSFORM PLACES COMMUNITY

• Tackle dereliction and vacancy • Develop and promote social enterprise • Create a well designed, sustainable and thriving place and entrepreneurship • Maximise connections • Improve and increase allotments, • Create effective shared space community gardens and growing • Address challenges of interface walls

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

• Encourage participation in sport and physical activity • Support and sustain positive lifestyle choices • Collaborate to tackle social isolation

56 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street MOTIVATE, SUPPORT AND INSPIRE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE • Encourage youth engagement opportunities ENTERPRISING • Support multi-discipline activity COMMUNITIES • Increase support for lifelong learning 3

• Connect and collaborate • Increase education, training & employment opportunities

MAXIMISE TOURISM OFFERING • Unlock latent tourism offer • Creatively re-use/ conserve physical assets CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE • Increase the spin-off benefits of existing tourism CULTURAL DIVERSITY

• Promote and develop a programme of festivals, events and cultural activity • Celebrate and foster cultural diversity • Encourage partnerships with local, national and international organisations

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 57 TRANSFORM PLACES 3 TACKLE CREATE A WELL DERELICTION DESIGNED, AND VACANCY SUSTAINABLE AND THRIVING PLACE

MAXIMISE CONNECTIONS

58 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 3 CREATE ADDRESS CHALLENGES EFFECTIVE OF INTERFACE WALLS SHARED SPACE

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 59 TACKLE The scale of the opportunity varies from Due to timescales to deliver individual properties to extensive sites redevelopment proposals potential DERELICTION which could transform the area. These exists to transform some of the AND VACANCY range from empty upper floors of vacant spaces through the innovative buildings to vacant shop units, historic application of meanwhile uses. These buildings and cleared sites. Each temporary interventions would add will require a different level of work to value to an area and its people. They bring these opportunities forward with could include community gardens, different individuals, groups, voluntary, performance spaces, outdoor private and public sector organisations. galleries/markets, wildlife gardens and many other imaginative proposals, 3 Consideration will need to be given considered and developed with local to short, medium and long term residents, organisations, schools and opportunities and could range from landowners. It is critical that from frontage improvements to repair the outset there is commitment to and re-use projects and potential supporting the management of these redevelopment proposals for key sites. spaces and a clear understanding that ultimately they will be redeveloped.

60 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street CREATE A WELL There are significant opportunities The potential to create design/ to enhance the area with new development briefs and possibly DESIGNED, development that is well designed design competitions should be SUSTAINABLE AND and contributes to animation. Inner explored. This would support THRIVING PLACE city brownfield, gap and underutilised innovation and the creation of high sites should be consolidated and quality places that reflects the local redeveloped to increase the population character whilst introducing innovation living and working in the area. This in design and technology including would in turn support facilities and renewable energies and materials. amenities in the area in a sustainable manner and increase vibrancy and viability. 3

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62 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 3 CREATE Creating shared space that is Also note the importance of accessible to all is central to the designing shared spaces for all EFFECTIVE Urban Villages Initiative outcomes. ages and abilities and encouraging SHARED SPACE There are opportunities to improve inter-generational use of the spaces. and increase access for a wider community to existing spaces, Shared movement through spaces through physical interventions and/ should also be considered, where or activities and events. appropriate. The concept is to improve the visual appearance of In designing new spaces, careful spaces, whilst giving pedestrians and consideration needs to be given to cyclists increased priority, reduce the adjacent uses, to ensure they traffic speeds and create flexible maximise the positive animation that spaces to accommodate different provides the feeling of safety and events and activities. encourages the use of the space for all. Regular positioning of doors and windows along frontages increases overlooking of the space.

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MAXIMISE There are possibilities to maximise overcoming topographical challenges CONNECTIONS connections in the short, medium through creative urban design. The and long term. The quality and balance between commuter parking range of connections across, within and residential amenity should be and beyond the area including links addressed and consider the potential to the city centre, River Foyle and for creating home-zone play areas other community assets need to be integral to residential streets. considered. Interventions may range from removing a railing, creating safe Potential cycle routes and riverside pedestrian links, to the longer term walkways/parks, bridges and links to goal of considering the removal of the city walls should be increased. the Lecky Road Flyover and re-making Similar schemes in other areas have 21st century streets. seen an increased uptake in running, walking and cycling which promotes Priority should be given to increasing healthy lifestyles and provides connectivity for pedestrians, cyclists opportunities for tourism. and disabled people, whilst

64 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 3 ADDRESS THE In the ‘Together: Building a United regular communication and shared Community’ Strategy, the Northern programmes and activities and CHALLENGES OF Ireland Executive made a commitment introducing flexibility to physical INTERFACE WALLS to remove interface barriers by 2023. barriers where there is community support to do so. As a headline action in that Strategy, we will work with local people and Work could also be undertaken to other stakeholders to address the address non-physical barriers that exist challenges of interface walls in Urban between neighbourhoods, in keeping Village areas as appropriate in each with Urban Village’s three aims of place. Clearly this is not a simple task fostering positive identities, building and fulfilling such an objective must community capacity and improving be carefully undertaken. the physical environment.

In each Urban Village area it is proposed that local people and those with responsibility for taking action on issues around interfaces are involved in shaping delivery of any capital or other schemes. There is no prescribed approach to this task.

Delivery may include increasing levels of communication and positive interaction, protecting original and potential points of connection, maximising opportunities for

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 65 BUILD A MORE RESILIENT AND SELF-SUFFICIENT COMMUNITY 3 DEVELOP AND PROMOTE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

66 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 3 IMPROVE AND INCREASE ALLOTMENTS, COMMUNITY GARDENS AND GROWING

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DEVELOP AND Strategically well located, the area These may include business PROMOTE SOCIAL has the potential to become a key incentives, marketing support, digital place for investment, private business connectivity and targeting training ENTERPRISE AND and social enterprise. This should be support. More importantly, the ENTREPRENEURSHIP proactively pursued collectively with conditions must be in place to ensure partners including: TRIAX, Derry City that the area can provide, attract and & Strabane District Council, residents, retain the workforce needed to supply City Centre Initiative and Londonderry any employment created. Chamber of Commerce.

A collaborative working relationship with businesses and their representative organisations could identify a series of practical measures and learning tools to support employment opportunities in the area.

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IMPROVE AND As a strong, vibrant community the There’s also potential to bring former INCREASE area enjoys many assets including gardens back to life including private community gardens and allotments. front and back gardens. This would ALLOTMENTS, These are a precious resource, increase self-sufficiency and provide COMMUNITY providing local people with the opportunities for residents to develop GARDENS AND opportunity to grow fresh produce, skills in horticulture and vegetable GROWING eat it and learn about it, making it growing and offer them opportunities a positive social activity. to participate in themed community events in a social setting. There are already a number of well- utilised allotments throughout the neighbourhoods. The community could be further transformed by creating allotments and community gardens on vacant sites as meanwhile uses as well as other existing open spaces.

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 69 HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

3 ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

70 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 3 SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN COLLABORATE TO POSITIVE LIFESTYLE TACKLE SOCIAL ISOLATION CHOICES

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 71 ENCOURAGE Homegrown sporting stars who have and nurture talent. The River Foyle competed at the highest level across offers further activity with potential PARTICIPATION several disciplines hail from the area. to introduce many to water sports IN SPORT AND Boasting several of the city’s key enabling people to see it as a positive PHYSICAL ACTIVITY sports facilities, namely Brandywell asset and amenity. Stadium, Celtic Park, City Baths, Pilots Row Community Centre, The Gasyard Significant sporting events like the Centre and Fountain MUGA the area Walled City Marathon, City of Derry provides great opportunity to support Triathlon and Jog in the Bog have 3

72 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street inspired hundreds of people of all ages to become the norm from an early to get involved in regular sporting age. There are opportunities to offer activity. More sporting events/festivals a wider menu of sporting options would provide further inspiration for and programmes to members of the people to get involved in sport. community who do not participate in traditional sports and regular activity. It is crucial to create a sustainable For example; teenage girls, senior culture and environment in which sport citizens, disabled groups and members and physical activity is intertwined of the LGBT community. 3

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 73 SUPPORT Given the health issues and For most, this is best placed in the AND SUSTAIN inequalities in the area there is a local community making it more need for people to be better informed accessible for all to take up an POSITIVE of their lifestyle choices. This could opportunity to have a health check LIFESTYLE be through events, courses and completed, discuss personal details CHOICES information sessions that address in a confidential space within close a wide range of issues from life proximity of their home, saving them expectancy to suicide rates, the cost and time. Having support to prevalence of mood and anxiety know and understand their rights disorders to disability benefit uptake. would enable participants to maximise 3 their household potential with a confidence and drive that would trigger an inter-generational shift with better knowledge and understanding of their rights and health requirements.

COLLABORATE The community continues to deal by providing a service that encourages TO TACKLE SOCIAL with a challenging economic climate, communication through listening social inequalities threaten to deplete and supporting the views, strengths ISOLATION community energy and resilience. This and relationships of people in the makes partnership approaches critical community. to the sustenance and well being of members of the community, to ensure Organisations such as Western Health the best use of our collective skills and Social Care Trust and Public Health resources. Agency working in partnership with community groups such as Dove Lower socioeconomic groups House and Bogside & Brandywell have a greater risk of poor health, Health Forum will be key to building isolation and reduced life expectancy. effective approaches that improve Opportunities should be sought to inclusion, health and wellbeing. address this by collectively harnessing and supporting a continued collaborative focus across the area. This direct positive impact could improve the standard of living for all

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 75 ENTERPRISING COMMUNITIES

3 CONNECT AND COLLABORATE

76 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 3 INCREASE EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 77 3 CONNECT AND We are living in an era of There is currently great potential transformation with the creation and to connect and further develop COLLABORATE sharing of knowledge. There are many technologies and social processes community, training, schools and to provide the next generation with college establishments in the area positive learning experiences that can and their skills and knowledge could open doors to partnership working, be shared more effectively through academic achievement and economic collaboration and collective thinking. A opportunity. A more effective sharing partnership approach on a cross sector of information via social media and basis is critical to support and enable e-zines would complement and better learning progression and achievement, promote information and educational with a particular focus on those who opportunity that is available to all. have traditionally ‘fallen through the gaps’ and need more support to build confidence and capacity before re- entering the labour market.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 79 3 INCREASE Unemployment and economic inactivity earning. Working collaboratively, local continue to threaten the vibrancy and businesses and organisations could EDUCATION, potential of the community. Collective offer an all round training opportunity TRAINING AND planning and continued promotion of a by enabling participants to maximise EMPLOYMENT positive learning ethos within families, their own learning potential by working OPPORTUNITIES the community and local businesses are and developing their strengths both crucial steps towards an educated, well practically and academically. skilled, employed community. Empowerment and motivation are There are opportunities to tackle key to enabling learners to pursue barriers to employment with a knowledge and develop expertise collaborative approach to learning. that takes advantage of their unique Starting in the community, the potential interests and potential. This unique to increase local skills would enhance learning landscape could be achieved and support the work of schools and with a partnership approach to colleges to develop better employment training, through a variety of learning opportunities. Accreditation centres could environments and specialist training be harnessed to ensure a wide range of providers to promote and support accredited training is available to address local talent with skills that are unique the immediate needs of the area. to the area. Training in areas like; social media, graphic design, 3d printing, Apprenticeships in trades and other heritage skills and event management/ professions are placing the vocational production would allow local people qualification firmly back on the to bring specialist qualifications to the agenda to offer an alternative road area for the area. map to skills and qualifications whilst

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 81 MOTIVATE, SUPPORT AND INSPIRE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE 3 ENCOURAGE YOUTH SUPPORT MULTI-DISCIPLINE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACTIVITY

82 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 3 SUPPORT MULTI-DISCIPLINE INCREASE SUPPORT ACTIVITY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 83 ENCOURAGE YOUTH The legacy of the conflict demanded and provide the youth with a better that the majority of children attend understanding of the world around ENGAGEMENT schools that are mainly Catholic or them and the potential they have to OPPORTUNITIES Protestant. This means that young achieve goals with ambition and drive. people continue to have limited opportunities to meet young people Engagement opportunities could be from different backgrounds. further supported and utilised when diversionary work is needed, especially More programmes, events and during times of heightened tension initiatives that bring young people when it is critical to create events/trips together would strengthen with a youth focus. 3 relationships, break down barriers

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SUPPORT MULTI- Urban Villages inter-generational Further innovative collaboration would community engagement workshops support youth groups and other local DISCIPLINE ACTIVITY reported that participants welcomed groups to work together in a sharing the opportunity to share and discuss capacity. This would enable skills to be their own life experiences. This was harnessed both inter-generationally done with a range of age groups and and cross community. This sharing of varied environments. ideas could be further appreciated through intercultural activity in a range of programmes, allowing people to use their voice and opinions in a safe confidential space that recognises and respects all voices. 3

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INCREASE Bringing the potential to enhance the community in a formal and SUPPORT FOR social inclusion, citizenship, and more traditional learning manner personal development, Lifelong to enable participants to have a LIFE LONG Learning enables people to tackle range of options. Options include LEARNING life choices, issues and opportunities Further Education, vocational training and direct links to employment This could be harnessed and Programmes on parenting skills, developed with a diverse range of particularly to those on the margins to inter-generational programmes, develop a context for enhancing their supporting a sharing of skills and children’s life potential and enabling ideas. These may take place within them to have a more positive outlook on life in general.

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 87 CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE CULTURAL DIVERSITY

3 PROMOTE AND DEVELOP CELEBRATE AND FOSTER A PROGRAMME OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY FESTIVALS, EVENTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITY

88 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 3 CELEBRATE AND FOSTER ENCOURAGE PARTNERSHIPS CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITH LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 89 PROMOTE AND Gasyard Wall Féile and the Maiden promotion/ marketing of opportunities City Festival are locally produced that may arise within the community DEVELOP A and managed festivals, unique to the in all areas of participation including; PROGRAMME OF area that celebrate the area’s history, marshalling, volunteering, timekeeping, FESTIVALS, EVENTS, culture and people. They have become organising packs and enabling a full AND CULTURAL highlights in the wider city’s cultural family participation. ACTIVITY calendar and complement the well established city wide celebrations The City of Culture year demonstrated including; Halloween, St Patrick’s Day, the transformative power of arts and City of Derry Jazz Festival, Foyle Film culture which have been increasingly Festival, Celtronic, Music City and Feis linked to social and economic 3 Doire Colmcille. regeneration, well being and contributing to a shared future. Scope Increasing awareness of these key for festivals and events throughout the local festivals and offering support to year should continue to be pursued existing practices and events would for all ages around different themes increase their wider benefits. This could including arts, crafts, music and sport. be achieved with the implementation of a co-ordinated overarching approach to the management of resources and the

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 91 CELEBRATE AND The city is becoming increasingly Further support and opportunities diverse with people of many are needed to ensure that all cultural FOSTER CULTURAL nationalities, backgrounds and cultures traditions, including those of newer DIVERSITY choosing to settle and make the city, communities are developed and including the Bogside, Fountain and promoted in a positive, inclusive, Bishop Street, their home. integrated manner. Communication and understanding about the history, Continued positive engagement ethos and practices of cultural between people living in the area is traditions should be better shared now needed more than ever in this ever and encouraged to aid wider evolving community. The opportunity understanding and participation, 3 to encourage the involvement of whilst also instilling community all people in the community should pride locally. continue to emphasize fun, a sense of belonging, inclusivity, respect and a place to be proud of.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 93 3

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ENCOURAGE There has been great collaborative The development of further strategic PARTNERSHIPS work carried out by local organisations partnerships with local, national and with national and international groups international organisations focusing WITH LOCAL, in recent years. Examples include on the arts, culture, leadership, NATIONAL AND creative events company Artichoke health, child development, heritage, INTERNATIONAL collaborating with Gasyard Wall Féile and education sectors should be ORGANISATIONS and Apprentice Boys of Derry at the harnessed, explored and encouraged Lumiere event in 2013 which attracted where possible. Done collaboratively 200,000 visitors. on a cross sector basis to include the local community, this could provide an opportunity to see and experience other communities and places outside of their immediate environment.

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 95 MAXIMISE TOURISM OFFERING

3 UNLOCK LATENT CREATIVELY RE-USE/ CONSERVE TOURISM OFFER PHYSICAL ASSETS

96 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 3 CREATIVELY RE-USE/ CONSERVE INCREASE THE SPIN-OFF PHYSICAL ASSETS BENEFITS OF EXISTING TOURISM

Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 97 UNLOCK LATENT Having boasted some 500,000 visitors There is potential to expand and build in recent years, the city has become a on the area’s valuable tourism offer. The TOURISM OFFER popular tourist destination. Several key city’s impressive history of shirt making WITHIN THE AREA tourist sites are located in or close to remains largely untold. There are also the area including the City Walls, Free opportunities to offer literary links to Derry Corner, Museum of Free Derry, the Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, Bogside Murals, Long Tower Chapel/ world renowned playwright Brian Friel Áras Colmcille, St Columb’s Cathedral, as well as ‘the Shakespeare of Derry’, putting the area on the tourist trail. George Farquhar. The majestic River Foyle continues to be an asset that offers great potential both to the 3 community and visitors.

98 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street CREATIVELY RE- Unlocking the latent potential in the Job creation possibilities in this area’s existing shirt factories and sector include heritage construction USE / CONSERVE associated worker’s housing both in (trades and professionals), hospitality PHYSICAL ASSETS Bogside and Fountain could provide an and leisure and community heritage opportunity to sustainably re-use these management. to meet everyday needs.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside,Urban VillagesFountain Initiative and Bishop - EastSide Street 99 3 INCREASE THE There is potential to introduce more The TRIAX community tourism group creative ways to improve access from has been working on a voluntary basis SPIN-OFF BENEFITS and to the city walls that will remain to develop tourism infrastructure and OF EXISTING sensitive to the monument and its story. promotional materials. TOURISM This can only be achieved through robust community discussions with local An opportunity to offer tour guide businesses, organisations and local training, event marshalling and retail residents to ensure all are involved in training would offer the potential to the areas evolving nature. provide additional employment and income opportunities to the area. This could take place with a series of innovative events, highlighting the city’s assets and the potential to engage in a fun and positive manner. An opportunity to harness visitors spending power by offering retail and hospitality opportunities to tourists before they move on to other destinations also offers potential for local businesses to progress and offer products.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 101 102 Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 04SUPPORTING DELIVERY

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Supporting delivery 4 STRATEGIC Routes Support will be provided to projects and programmes in keeping with CONNECTIONS to delivery the good relations outcomes of the The Urban Villages Initiative is a Although coordinated by the Urban Villages Initiative. We will headline action within the Executive Office, and overseen draw from the most appropriate Executive’s ‘Together: Building a by Junior Ministers, capital and delivery partners including United Community’ Strategy. It is revenue investments made directly central and local government and led by the Executive Office with the through the Urban Villages community and voluntary groups. support of senior representatives Initiative will be led and managed from other government departments by organisations that best suit the Activity more focussed on alongside Derry City and Strabane particular project or programme. community capacity building, District Council. This means that work on parks, cultural innovation and positive public realm projects and other identities will be delivered by This Strategic Framework is intended physical interventions is likely to be community and voluntary groups to be a useful point of reference led by the Council, the Department to maximise local networks and for anyone with an interest in the for Communities, NI Housing connections or through central Urban Village areas and a means Executive or the Department for or local government. for identifying opportunities Infrastructure. to collaborate around shared Programme for Government outcomes and indicators.

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Urban Villages Initiative - Bogside, Fountain and Bishop Street 105 This material is based upon Crown Copyright and is reproduced with the permission of Land & Property Services under delegated authority from the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown copyright and database rights NIMA ES&LA 2006.