NI projects close to 'Living Landmarks' funding

Three Northern Ireland projects have moved one step closer to receiving a slice of £140 million of funding available through the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks programme.

The Belfast projects are among 23 across the UK that have made it on to the shortlist to compete for a small number of grants of between £10 million and £25 million each under the Living Landmarks programme.

The Titanic Signature Project, Giants Park at North Foreshore and the Connswater Community Greenway are now in line to receive a development grant of up to £250,000 to help progress their application.

A programme committee that includes experts in the areas of architecture, regeneration and the environment will make decisions on grants to be awarded in September 2007.

Northern Ireland Director of the Big Lottery Fund, Walter Rader, said: “We are tremendously excited about the Living Landmarks programme and I am delighted that three local projects have been shortlisted. Through this programme we will fund some truly ground-breaking projects that capture the imagination of communities, making them better places to live, work and play. By asking communities what they need, what their priorities are on a local level and what really makes a difference to their lives, the Living Landmarks programme will bring an opportunity for real innovation increasing people’s involvement with the Lottery and reconnecting them with the good causes they support.”

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board hopes to secure a grant to develop the Titanic Signature Project to create an iconic visitor centre for Belfast based on the story of RMS Titanic from a Belfast perspective located in the Titanic Quarter.

If successful, Belfast City Council would use the grant to develop the Giants Park, a themed park on part of a landfill on the North Foreshore.

The project would include an iconic bridge over the M2 motorway, an educational facility as well as pathways and public art.

The Greater East Belfast Partnership would use the grant to create a linear parkway following the course of the Connswater and other rivers through east Belfast.

The parkway would connect a number of green spaces along the course of the river making the area more accessible to local people in east Belfast.

Alan Clarke, chief executive of the NI Tourist Board, said: “This is very welcome news and given the calibre of the competition reflects the quality of this Key Signature Project. Getting through to the second stage with the Living Landmarks programme will help us to realise the vision of delivering an international visitor attraction at the heart of the historic area of the shipyard in time for the 2012 centenary.”

Sammy Douglas from the Greater East Belfast Partnership said: “We are delighted that the Big Lottery Fund has shortlisted the Greenway project. This is exactly the type of project we need to improve the quality of life for the people of East Belfast.”

Living Landmarks, launched in June 2005, will allow communities – individuals, residents and businesses – to identify their priorities for change and apply for funding for projects that will have a real impact and meet locally identified need. Across the UK, woodlands, waterways, cycle bridges, parks, buildings, open public spaces - projects that enhance the natural and built environments are set to benefit.

Shortlisted projects will be awarded development grants of up to £250,000 for the Living Landmarks stream and up to £500,000 for the Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions stream of the programme.

(EF/SP)