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IrelandIntegrated area planningIreland used to be one of the poorest countries in Europe. Its urban regeneration policy was therefore one that did not require any direct investment of government funds. In 1985 legislation was introduced that enabled tax incentives to be offered to investors willing to build or refurbish housing in particularly deprived areas. In all, more than 100 areas were designated. However, in the last decade, Ireland's economy has strengthened. One even talks of the "Celtic tiger". This has resulted in considerable but fragmented investment in run-down urban areas. Therefore, in 1996, the government initiated a major study of practice to date. One of the main conclusions was that the action, which was governed by tax incentives for investors in run-down areas had resulted in dreary uniformity in the urban areas in question and generally uninspired architecture in the areas with the best locations. At the same time, it was found that the physical changes had not resulted in the social and cultural improvements that had been hoped for. On this basis, the Ministry for Housing and Urban Regeneration has developed a model called Integrated Area Plans (IAP). The model was launched in a new act that went into force on 1 August 1998. The IA plans are framework plans that are intended to integrate public and private investment. Tax concessions for investors are to be more selective and are only to be granted in cases where the projects can act as a catalyst for general development. The areas are designated on the basis of their concentration of unemployed persons or abandoned sites and buildings, the concentration of condemnable buildings, the existence of infrastructure problems, a poor visual environment and a lack of new investment. According to the new act, the plans must include descriptions of:
The new IA planning is also based on the area-based partnerships created at the beginning of the 1990s. It was funding from the EU that got the 38 partnerships going. The partnerships' main task was to combat social exclusion and long-term unemployment in Ireland's most threatened local areas. The partnerships are independent bodies that operate cross-sectorally. Formally, they are very strong since they have a lot of money at their disposal and have been granted the right to offer public services. One of their core activities is to administer the national programmes that are intended to create local economic development. In reality, the partnerships break down the boundary between the public and private sector, between national and local and between different democratic structures. However, a lot of the partnerships' funds come from the EU. These funds were needed in the start-up phase but they also mean that the Irish partnerships are very vulnerable. However, with the country's present economic progress, the planners have begun to prepare for a reduction of EU funding and stress that that will enable them to plan on a more long-term base. The fact is that the EU programmes are usually limited to 4 years, which does not leave much time for real resident involvement.
The Finglas project has been ongoing for 11 years. Together with the neighbouring area of Capra, Finglas is one of the 38 local partnerships. The Finglas project is based mainly on partnership and resident involvement. Finglas is a suburb of Dublin. It has about 35,000 inhabitants and has net emigration. It was built at the end of the 1940s and the beginning of the 1950s to rehouse people moved out of their homes in the inner city areas in connection with slum clearance programmes. Most of the housing units are council dwellings. Dublin Corporation built 60% of the total housing stock, but many of the housing units have now been purchased by the tenants and, today, 70% of them are in private ownership. All the housing is high density terraced housing, the residential areas are monotonous and the public spaces are uninspiring. The area has a very young population. 60% of the residents are under the age of 25 and there are 1,200 students. That means that the area has a lot of young people looking for work. Even before the advent of the national partnership in 1991, Finglas was well on the way to turning its trend of development. The Finglas Enlivement Project started up in 1987. This initiative came from Dublin Corporation's planning department, and the plans for regenerating the area were developed in cooperation with resident groups, businesses and organisations in Finglas. The project arose from the planning office's recognition that the area's actual potentials were not being utilised. Resident involvement probably existed in theory, but in fact, the decisions were taken at City Hall. At that precise time, trust was severely lacking on account of a large new shopping centre that had opened south of the town centre even though there were vacant buildings in the town centre that could have been used. Instead, the centre of the town became a picture of dilapidation and empty shop windows. The planning department therefore developed a number of new methods that created a school for future planning. The new methods included:
The Finglas project focused particularly on promoting education, historical awareness, and art and culture. Art was used to involve and activate the residents. Festivals, architectural exhibitions and art exhibitions were held. In addition, great importance was attached to children - in particular - learning about the area's history and cultural background. As mentioned, in 1991 the project was expanded with the Finglas Cabra Partnership. The board has 20 members (9 from the local community, 6 officials, 3 trade union members and 3 employees from local firms). Its brief is job creation, education and development of the attractiveness of the local area. Almost all the individual initiatives are receiving EU support. In the 11 years the project has existed, it has succeeded in building up local pride and changing the media's negative attitude to the area. On the physical side, the project has led to refurbishment of the town centre.
The HARP project is Dublin's present urban regeneration flagship and an example of development of framework plans in close cooperation between planners and the local community. In the HARP area, the new planning tools in Integrated Area Planning must stand their test. The HARP plan encompasses a 109 ha area in the western part of Dublin. It is centrally situated but on the "wrong" side of the river. The area has had a lively history with a lot of small industry and a high population density. There are food markets, and many of the area's industries are therefore associated with the food industry. For example, there are soap factories, fishing industries and slaughterhouses. There is also a large commercial district, a museum area and a single ministry. In this century, however, the area has been overtaken by events and today there are many vacant properties and sites. The population also declined until 1991, when it stood at an all-time low of 3,500. At that time, most of the area's housing stock was council housing, but here in the 1990s some private housing has been built on the outskirts of the area, including along the river, which has brought the population up to around 7,000 today. The area's problems are high unemployment, empty property, vacant office premises, low population density, poor image and poor accessibility. The planning has been prepared and implemented in close cooperation with people living and working in the area. This cooperation has resulted in the identification of a network of cells, each with its own atmosphere, character and identity. Special objectives and strategies are being developed within each cell. The HARP project's objectives are: a better quality of life; sustainable districts with mixed housing and business; increased investment; mixture of forms of ownership; and an improved image. Although socioeconomic aspects are included in the strategies, the project catalogue is almost exclusively of a physical nature. There is very heavy emphasis on the creation of new squares and on beautifying street spaces. However, the socioeconomic and cultural aspects can still be better integrated in the project and efforts are being made to do so. |
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