As a relatively compact city, much of what's included in the Parisian 15 minute city model is within reach in Belfast, say our council.
The concept was developed by French-Colombian scientist Carlos Moreno and Paris has already adopted his idea which aims to have education, work, transport, nutrition, health & care, recreation & culture within 15 minutes of people's homes at an average walking pace.
Cars have been king in Northern Ireland for decades with our cities, towns and villages planned around the notion long distances to what we need and urban sprawl are not an issue. Because of that, city and town centres became places for shopping, working and entertainment with few homes and an ever growing portfolio of empty buildings at their hearts.
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A report commissioned by the Irish Institutional Property suggests cities and their neighbourhoods should contain a mix of everything people need close to home. Its author Camilla Siggaard Andersen from Hassell architects believes if planners adopted the concept it could transform the lives of people in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick while helping the environment.
So as part of our Reach For Zero campaign, we asked the council if they think the idea of a 15 minute city would work here too.
Belfast City Council tell us they have already considered a similar approach to the 15-minute city through its 'bolder vision' strategy.
The plan, they say, "outlines our approach to increasing the city centre population, whilst better connecting to existing and surrounding communities so that services, amenities and social infrastructure are accessible to our growing and diverse population".
It also proposes increasing the amount of green and open space, "creating spaces for families and children" like the new and improved park in the city's Cathedral Gardens.
But what does a 'bolder vision' for Belfast mean for you and me?
A bolder vision for Belfast aims to give us a progressive, reimagined city centre which is "greener, walkable and connected" that's "people focused", will end the dominance of the car and embrace the River Lagan and city waterfront.
They also hope to promote city centre living by providing greater quality, choice and more affordable accommodation at its heart.
In order to deliver it, the strategy says "historical issues including severance and barriers to movement" must be overcome to build a cleaner, more resilient and stronger city.
Projects that are important to this 'bolder vision' include the Belfast Region City Deal with Innovation and SMART districts, Belfast's new Grand Central transport hub, Belfast Streets Ahead 3 and 5, further Glider extension through the Belfast Rapid Transit 2, the city's Cultural Strategy and Belfast Destination Hub.
The strategy, was finished by Belfast City Council and the departments for Infrastructure and Communities in 2019 and then publicly consulted.
What's included:
- Redesign of areas like Great Patrick Street's junction with a people first approach
- Review of on-street parking
- More 'pocket parks' and urban forests
- Better public realms
- Network of green streets where people and bicycles get priority
- More cycle parking and docking stations, especially along the river
- Green corridors along inner ring, more active travel hubs
- Enhanced pedestrian and cycle routes over Westlink and under A12/M3
- Continued expansion of the Belfast Bikes scheme
- Pop-up green island parks parks and swimming pontoons on River Lagan
- Development of Belfast Marine Mile
- Development of the 'vacant to vibrant' scheme to bring vacant units into use and support businesses and services to grow, test concepts and provide new offers in the city centre
- Regeneration initiatives to bring in greening opportunities and placemaking projects
The new cultural space at 2 Royal Avenue is seen a key part of a wider offering that not only re-uses heritage assets, but also provides options for a growing residential population.
A council spokesperson told us the Storylines Design Competition in partnership with the Royal Society of Ulster Architects will also test ideas about how to create engaging meanwhile uses for the Belfast Stories space.
When will it happen?
A council spokesperson told Belfast Live: "The Ministers for Infrastructure and Communities and Belfast City Council have committed to bringing forward a Bolder Vision Strategy for Belfast in summer 2022, following the end of the recent consultation stage."
A DfI spokesperson said: “The Department supports the concept of 15 minute neighbourhoods which are encouraged in its Planning for the future of Transport document. While it will take time to achieve these neighbourhoods on the ground, a key first step will be the adoption of council Local Development Plans (LDP). The Department will have a role to play particularly in the delivery of transport infrastructure requirements for the LDPs which will be detailed in the Local Transport Plans (LTPs) which are currently under development by the Department.
“The Department’s Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) also encourages local planning authorities in the North to deliver sustainable forms of development by reducing the use of greenfield land for housing and accommodating more urban housing through the recycling of land and buildings and encouraging compact town and village forms. The SPPS also promotes sustainable patterns of development which reduce the need for motorised transport, encourages active travel, and facilitates travel by public transport in preference to the private car.
“The Department’s Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) is available at https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/publications/strategic-planning-policy-statement
“The Department’s Planning for the future of Transport document is available at https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/publications/planning-future-transport-time-change “
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