Vision 20:20 | Fís 20:20 Transforming West Belfast Ag bunathrú iarthar Bhéal Feirste PROMOTING WEST BELFAST TOURISM www.visitwestbelfast.com CONTENTS Foreword - Paul Maskey MP 1 Gort Na Móna GAC 20 Investing in our Future - West Belfast Investment Map 22 Harry Connolly, Fáilte Feirste Thiar 2 Half Moon Lake 24 Developing our Community - Jim Girvan, West Belfast Innovation Factory 25 Partnership Board 3 Ionad na Fuiseoige 26 Andersonstown Leisure Centre 4 James Connolly Visitor Centre 27 Áras na bhFál 5 Raidió Fáilte 28 Balmoral Hotel 6 Rapid Transit System 29 Blackmountain Shared Roddy McCorley Society 30 Space Project 7 Sally Gardens 31 Brook Leisure Centre 8 Sarsfields GAC / Casement Park 9 Padraig Sairseil CLG 32 Clonard Boxing Club 10 Sportlann na hÉireann 33 Colin Glen Trust 11 Springfield Dam 34 Colin Park 12 St Comgalls 35 Colin Transport Hub St Paul’s GAC / Naomh Pól CLG 36 and Civic Square 13 Suíumh Ard na bhFeá 37 Cumann Cluain Árd 14 The Devenish Complex 38 Dairy Farm Centre 15 Twin Spires Complex 39 Davitts GAC 16 Westwood Retail Park 40 Dunmurry Nature Park 17 Whiterock Community Corridor 41 Falls Park / City Cemetery Masterplan 18 Woodland Playing Fields 42 Glór Na Móna 19 RÉAMHRÁ PAUL MASKEY FP IARTHAR BHÉAL FEIRSTE Is onóir mór domsa réamhrá an fhoilseacháin seo a scríobh. Is iontach an bunathrú dearfach atá déanta ar Iarthar Bhéal Feirste. Mar FP don toghcheantar seo tá sé d’ádh orm eolas bheith agam ar na tionscadail seo go léir agus tuigim an méid mór oibre agus díograise atá déanta le go mbeidh rath ar gach ceann de na tionscadail seo. Ní dhéantar ceann ar bith de na tionscadail seo gan comhoibriú. Ní spreagtar dea-smaointe de thimpiste: tá coimitmint agus disciplín daingean de dhíth lena gcomhlíonadh. Tá obair fhócasaithe agus dhícheallach de dhíth lena mbaint amach, ón luathchoincheap, trí phleanáil ghnó, maoiniú a chinntiú agus inbhuanaitheacht a chur in iúl. Ba mhaith liom na daoine, na heagrais, na maoinitheoirí, an lucht tacaíochta agus na ceannródaithe go léir taobh thiar de na scoth-thionscnaimh seo a mholadh go hard. Is curaidh go léir d’Iarthar Bhéal Feirste sibh a bhfuil an-ghrá agaibh dár bpobal agus dár muintir. Tháinig Iarthar Bhéal Feirste tríd na drochamanna ba mheasa ach beidh todhchaí an-rathúil againn amach anseo. Déanaim comhghairdeas le Fáilte Feirste Thiar agus le Páirtíocht Iarthar Bhéal Feirste as sárobair s’acu a bhfís a fhíorú. Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Roinn Pobal chomh maith as fiúntas a leithéid seo d’fhoilseachán a thuiscint agus as an mhaoiniú riachtanach a thabhairt le gur féidir leo an taighde agus an foilseachán nuálach seo a dhéanamh. á mé go mór den tuairim nach bhfuil in Fís 20:20 ach an tús, an chéad chéim agus an chéim is tábhachtaí b’fhéidir, den bhunathrú fhollasach in Iarthar Bhéal Feirste a chuirfidh daoine áitiúla ag croílár na forbartha agus a chothóidh samhail uathúil a ligfidh dár n-acmhainneacht agus dár spiorad fás. Tá muid ag fíorú ár n-acmhainneachta mar mhuintir agus mar phobal. FOREWORD PAUL MASKEY MP FOR WEST BELFAST It is an honour to me to provide the foreword for this publication. The positive transformation that has taken place in recent years in west Belfast is nothing short of outstanding. As MP for this constituency I have the privilege of having knowledge of all of these projects and an appreciation of the sheer volume of effort and dedication that goes into making each and every one of these projects a success. None of these projects happen by themselves. Good ideas don’t just happen; they require an unswerving commitment and discipline to the task at hand. From the early concept, through business planning, securing finance and articulating sustainability, diligent and focused work is required. I want to commend all the people, organisations, funders, supporters and trail blazers behind these amazing initiatives. You are all champions of west Belfast who possess a real grá for our community and our people. West Belfast has come through the most difficult times and our brightest days are ahead of us. I want to congratulate Fáilte Feirste Thiar and the West Belfast Partnership Board for having the vision to make this idea a reality. I also want to congratulate the Department for Communities for seeing the value in a publication of this nature and providing the necessary resources to conduct the research and produce this innovative publication. I am of the firm belief that Vision 20:20 is only the beginning, the first phase and perhaps the most important, of a tangible transformation in west Belfast that puts local people central to development and builds a unique model that allows our resilience and spirit to grow. 1 Now we are realising our full potential as a people and as a community. INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE HARRY CONNOLLY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FÁILTE FEIRSTE THIAR In recent years west Belfast has began to secure increased amounts of public sector investment. Research undertaken for this publication has uncovered that this combined investment totals over £300 million. A significant figure. Many people involved in our local private, public and community sectors will not be fully aware of the huge amount of work involved nor the scale of the investment secured. The Vision 20:20 Transforming West Belfast publication captures, articulates and plots out in a user friendly format the depth of investment, the impact of this investment and importantly a timetable for delivery. Only projects that have been secured are showcased. Vision 20:20 will act as a catalyst in helping to leverage further investment. Fáilte Feirste Thiar, tasked with promoting west Belfast to visitors and locals, has led on this project alongside the West Belfast Partnership Board, with support from the Department for Communities. Vision 20:20 will act as a tool in the promotion of west Belfast as a dynamic and welcoming destination to live, work and socialise. It will instil increased cohesion across community, statutory and private sectors - essentially all of those people, partnership’s, businesses and organisations working to a positive agenda for west Belfast. This work will foster a new ‘pride of place’ amongst all those who reside in west Belfast, showcasing partnership in action and inspiring a new generation and we are proud to say we are part of that. 2 DEVELOPING OUR COMMUNITY JIM GIRVAN, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR WEST BELFAST PARTNERSHIP BOARD Releasing the potential and connecting the opportunities West Belfast Partnership Board is delighted to present this report in the changing landscape of west Belfast along with our partner Fáilte Feirste Thiar and with support from the Department for Communities. West Belfast has seen transformational change over the last twenty years, with its buildings, structure, style and landscape, and we want to encourage this growth in partnership with local communities. This booklet outlines the short term vision for west Belfast and the various public and private capital builds which will see significant investment come into west Belfast. We want to capture this growth with the aim to develop positive and connected pathways for people to gain employment, increase business opportunities and create a joined up approach to investments. West Belfast has the most talented, inspirational, committed and diverse workforce. We want to continue to build this rich vibrant part of the city and to show investors this is the place to come to for a highly skilled and ambitious workforce. Small and medium size businesses are the heartbeat of the economic regeneration of west Belfast and we want to nature and support this growth. We have a very strong social enterprise sector which is highly skilled and has extensive expertise and knowledge which supports people and businesses to reach their full potential. West Belfast is an amazing place where people have business accolades and creative solutions, which creates the perfect place for people to live, work, invest, visit and enjoy. 3 Vision 20:20 | Fís 20:20 Transforming West Belfast | Ag bunathrú iarthar Bhéal Feirste XXXXXANDERSONSTOWN LEISURE CENTRE XXXXXANDERSONSTOWN ROAD £25 MILLION INVESTMENT Funded by Belfast City Council New family leisure centre complex consisting of a large family fun water park, 25m 6 lane pool, gym facilities & outdoor pitches Building work underway Anticipated completion Summer 2019 4 Vision 20:20 | Fís 20:20 Transforming West Belfast | Ag bunathrú iarthar Bhéal Feirste XXXXXÁRAS NA BHFÁL XXXXXBROADWAY, FALLS ROAD £2 MILLION INVESTMENT Funded by Department for Communities, Ciste and SIF 4 storeys of office accommodation over ground floor retail space with rental proceeds contributing to new Irish medium schools Building work underway Anticipated completion Summer 2019 5 Vision 20:20 | Fís 20:20 Transforming West Belfast | Ag bunathrú iarthar Bhéal Feirste XXXXXBALMORAL HOTEL XXXXXBLACKS ROAD £1 MILLION INVESTMENT Privately Funded Redevelopment of flagship hotel with plans for additional rooms bringing capacity to 72 bedrooms, 2 restaurants, lobby bar, public bar and multipurpose conference and wedding venue. Work commenced - Completion 2020 6 Vision 20:20 | Fís 20:20 Transforming West Belfast | Ag bunathrú iarthar Bhéal Feirste BLACKMOUNTAIN SHARED SPACE PROJECT UPPER BALLYGOMARTIN ROAD £8.5 MILLION INVESTMENT Funded by SEUPB, Belfast City Council, NIHE and International Fund for Ireland (pending) Shared space facility on former Finlay’s site located at the junction of the Upper Ballygomartin Road and Springmartin Road. Anticipated completion