Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter has been identified as the city’s key cultural locality, a fact which, coupled with the relatively low rents in the area, has made it the traditional home of arts organisations.

How CAF became involved in the campaign
The future of Cathedral Quarter was thrown in to doubt with the announcement that parts of the area are were to be redeveloped as part of a major retail scheme. Although all living and working in the area welcomed the fact that efforts are being made to revitalise the Quarter, the plans, lodged by William Ewart in March 2003 were widely criticised by arts groups and residents, who feared they would do little to regenerate the area.

Concerned parties became particularly incensed by plans to construct a 640 space multi-storey car park in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter, which they felt would act as a physical barrier between the area and the rest of Belfast city centre. Increased traffic flow created by the car park, which ran contrary to government green policies on car usage, would have further inhibited the movement of people into Cathedral Quarter.

Following a meeting with the developer in April 2004 concerned parties came together to form the Cathedral Quarter – Let’s Get it Right campaign, which aimed to push forward the sensitive and successful development of the area.

In July 2004 the group published a response to the proposed retail development (copies of which can be downloaded from this webpage). This response not only articulated the concerns of residents, businesses and individuals, but also demonstrated how the planned retail scheme ran contrary to public policy in terms of traffic in the city centre, urban living, conservation of buildings and public consultation, to name a few.

In October 2004, in a move that was applauded by the Let’s Get it Right campaign, the Department of Social Development announced that Cathedral Quarter would have its own regeneration masterplan. This would push forward development of the area, while protecting its unique built and cultural heritage.

For more information on the campaign contact Heather Floyd on Tel: 028 9024 2910 or Email: hfloyd@caf.ie