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01/10/2002
Prince of Wales urges Belfast to use heritage to deliver regeneration
The Prince of Wales has appealed to the City of Belfast to use its historic buildings to drive forward regeneration.
Prince Charles delivered his appeal in a video message to delegates attending a major conference being organized by Belfast City Council.
In his speech, at the opening of 'Look Up Belfast: A New Perspective On The City', Belfast’s first international built heritage conference, the Prince urged Belfast to follow the example of other European cities and use its heritage to create a quality environment and thus attract jobs.
He said: “Belfast is one of the great industrial cities of Europe, with a dwindling legacy of fine Victorian and Edwardian buildings. In these fast moving times, it is easy to forget that your city was once home to the world’s largest shipyard and ropeworks. Its aeronautical and engineering industries achieved international recognition.
"This legacy defines much of the history and character of Belfast, but it has not been adequately appreciated in terms of the opportunities it has presented for new uses and for economic and social regeneration.
“It is easy to believe that Northern Ireland’s architectural heritage is inexhaustible, rather like the tropical rainforests of Brazil – that you can take away parts of it and still have plenty left. But, in reality, Northern Ireland’s built heritage is gradually – if not rapidly – being nibbled away. The built environment is your joint inheritance and people everywhere increasingly see built heritage as a central part of their cultural identity. I do pray that you will grasp the opportunity to create places of lasting value and quality for the future"
The Prince’s challenge was later re-iterated by Doug Elliot, managing director of a string of successful development companies, including Ormeau Gasworks Ltd. and Twenty Two Over Seven, who called upon the City to “wake up” to the importance of its built heritage within the framework of developing future prosperity.
The conference also examined what can be learned from both international and local best practice case studies. Locally, these will include the redevelopment of the Gasworks and restoration of the Albert Clock and the conservation of such buildings as St. Patrick’s School, the old Belmont School, Conway Mill and the merchants’ houses at College Square for economically viable uses that benefit the whole community.
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Prince Charles delivered his appeal in a video message to delegates attending a major conference being organized by Belfast City Council.
In his speech, at the opening of 'Look Up Belfast: A New Perspective On The City', Belfast’s first international built heritage conference, the Prince urged Belfast to follow the example of other European cities and use its heritage to create a quality environment and thus attract jobs.
He said: “Belfast is one of the great industrial cities of Europe, with a dwindling legacy of fine Victorian and Edwardian buildings. In these fast moving times, it is easy to forget that your city was once home to the world’s largest shipyard and ropeworks. Its aeronautical and engineering industries achieved international recognition.
"This legacy defines much of the history and character of Belfast, but it has not been adequately appreciated in terms of the opportunities it has presented for new uses and for economic and social regeneration.
“It is easy to believe that Northern Ireland’s architectural heritage is inexhaustible, rather like the tropical rainforests of Brazil – that you can take away parts of it and still have plenty left. But, in reality, Northern Ireland’s built heritage is gradually – if not rapidly – being nibbled away. The built environment is your joint inheritance and people everywhere increasingly see built heritage as a central part of their cultural identity. I do pray that you will grasp the opportunity to create places of lasting value and quality for the future"
The Prince’s challenge was later re-iterated by Doug Elliot, managing director of a string of successful development companies, including Ormeau Gasworks Ltd. and Twenty Two Over Seven, who called upon the City to “wake up” to the importance of its built heritage within the framework of developing future prosperity.
The conference also examined what can be learned from both international and local best practice case studies. Locally, these will include the redevelopment of the Gasworks and restoration of the Albert Clock and the conservation of such buildings as St. Patrick’s School, the old Belmont School, Conway Mill and the merchants’ houses at College Square for economically viable uses that benefit the whole community.
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