EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - The Ballymun Regeneration programme

The Ballymun Regeneration programme

Introduction

The Ballymun Regeneration programme aims to create a new town by replacing an old high rise estate using urban regeneration. It includes social, physical and economic aspects while preserving the old community by working with residents to provide the type of town they want.

Problem

Ballymun is on the north side of Dublin and was built as a local authority housing estate during the 1960s and 1970s. It failed almost from the outset through a combination of poor housing management, inadequate landscaping, poor insulation (noise, water penetration and heating). In 1997 many of the flats were vacant and the condition of the estate was derelict. There were high levels of unemployment, drug problems, and the housing authority of located people in the area who were very poor and not coping very well in their lives. A combination of all these factors led Ballymun to being infamous as a place to avoid.

Description

The programme will result in a town with new and improved facilities for the 30,000 people who will live there. The programme works with the community to develop and implement the Masterplan for the physical, economic and social regeneration of Ballymun.

Approach

Housing
The seven fifteen-storey tower blocks, nineteen eight-storey blocks and ten four-storey blocks of flats will be demolished. They will be replaced by at least 5,000 new homes in a variety of styles and sizes in five existing neighbourhoods.
Economy
The new town is being made economically sustainable through the construction of a traditional style Main Street, with its retail and commercial services, the development of neighbourhood centres with a range of local services, and the development of lands for employment generating uses.
Community
Residents enjoy the benefits of a multitude of arts, environmental action, recreational and training opportunities which go along with the regeneration. A new physical infrastructure of parks, arts, and leisure facilities is created as well.

Results

The project is still in its implementation phase. The results so far are:

650 housing units have been built;
An Oral History project has completed documenting the history of the area from residents’ perspective;
The Ballymun Community Law Service has been set up (in partnership with governmental agencies and a network of local legal and welfare advice organisations);
Employment of local people on construction and environmental projects;
Development of network of childcare facilities;
Development of public parks and pocket parks;
Development of Active Retirement Group;
Development of Music Room for local school;
Development of tree planting and overall landscape and environmental works strategy.

Learning experiences

One of the main lessons learned from the Ballymun experience is the importance of in-depth participatory consultation, and the need to use a range of different techniques and strategies to ensure that the local population are aware of the issues and can make informed inputs into the decision making process.

Beneficiaries

The residents population (20,000 residents)

Resources used

There is European funding for innovative technologies and the Irish Government and Dublin city council are funding the public sector housing elements.

Contact info

Ballymun Regeneration Ltd
Ms Evelyn Hanlon, tel. + 353 1 8421144

Project start date

01/03/1998

Links

The website of Ballymun Regeneration Ltd Documentation on the programme

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Keywords

Urban renewal