Peace III 2.1 Creating Shared Public Spaces
Overview
The intervention seeks to tackle the problems of separation of communities within society and address the underlying problems of sectarianism, racism and prejudice by encouraging the development of physical environments that are not ‘marked out’ with symbols that define it as a territory of one side of a community but as open to and welcoming to all. By complementing processes and relationships established in Priority 1, this element of Priority 2 will provide the infrastructural development that could replace peace walls and sectarian graffiti, flags, emblems.
The overall objective of the Peace III Programme is to reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society and promoting reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region.
Theme 2.1 Creating shared public spaces, has a budget of €82 million. The aim is to regenerate urban, rural and border areas that appear derelict, segregated, underused, threatening and/or unwelcoming and transform them into hared spaces and maximise the potential for reconciliation and economic evelopment.
- Through infrastructural developments, it aims to expand the opportunities for common use, interaction and engagement, and economic development in areas that have been particularly affected by the conflict.
- Project promoters will be required to develop activities in consultation and partnership to ensure local community engagement and participation.
It is expected that applications will only be invited for large scale capital projects (up to €10m). There will be no deadline for applications but SEUPB expects to fund only around 10 projects under this Priority and that small and medium scale applications won’t be considered.
A call for expressions of interest for this measure was first announced in summer 2007 and it is expected that some of those who expressed interest at the time will be well advanced in making application under this measure. However, anyone who failed the expression of interest process can still go forward and make an application. At present, SEUPB does not envisage a closing date for this programme. Developments as of May 2008 comprise of:
- 148 Expressions of Interest were received seeking a total of €750m.
- Sixteen full applications have been received by SEUPB to date.
- Five Part A applications have also been received.
- Four new applications are anticipated in the near future.
All applications have been progressed to or are in receipt of an independent Economic Appraisal, including 13 of which have been commissioned by SEUPB. An Economic Appraisal has also been commissioned on 1 pipeline project for which an application is anticipated. To date 12 applications have been presented to the Steering Committee, two of these were recommended for approval and both are currently with the Accountable Departments for consideration. Three applications have been deferred pending further information and seven applications rejected. In addition, it is anticipated that the re-submitted versions of previously rejected and deferred applications may be available for consideration.
Contact SEUPB for more information.