Collaborative Approach to Urban Planning

The workshop, organised with support from Urban Villages focused on advancing participatory planning methods by bringing together a diverse coalition of stakeholders, including MDA staff, residents, elected representatives, QCAP and QUB academics, and technical specialists from the built environment sector. This multi-stakeholder approach reflects growing recognition within urban planning discourse of the importance of community voice in shaping more equitable and inclusive regeneration outcomes. The session's primary objective was twofold: to explore the regeneration potential of the Stewart Street site whilst simultaneously identifying key constraints, particularly those arising from existing planning policy frameworks that may influence the design parameters of the final regeneration scheme.

Evidence-Based Community Engagement

The workshop also included a presentation by Dr. Andrew Grounds on QCAP’s findings from the Growing Up in the Market Study, led by Dr Emma Loudon. This longitudinal research represents a useful evidence base and also in that it surfaced valuable community perspectives on housing provision, built environment quality, open space accessibility, car parking arrangements, and connectivity to broader investment projects within and beyond the Market area. The community utilised these research findings alongside technical expertise to engage in a collaborative visioning exercise moderated by MDA Director Fionntán Hargey. Participants worked to articulate their aspirations for the site through consideration of critical issues, including housing density, open space provision, and integration with the neighbouring Tunnels regeneration project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Advocacy to Vision

The workshop's success was evidenced by strong participation across all age demographics, reflecting the community's continued investment in their neighbourhood's future. The community vision developed represents an evolution from previous community advocacy efforts. Earlier campaigns adopted a much-needed defensive stance, successfully challenging speculative development interests and securing the Department for Communities' investment in acquiring the site. The current approach moves towards proactive articulation of regeneration aspirations grounded in local priorities and needs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflections on the Community Consultation

This workshop illustrates one approach to community engagement in urban regeneration, combining academic research with technical expertise and the community voice. The process highlights both the opportunities and complexities involved in translating community aspirations into viable regeneration proposals within existing policy considerations and technical constraints. The MDA's approach provides an emerging case study of community-led consultation methods in the context of contested urban development, and learning from this process will be key to informing future consultations moving forward.