Maze Development Approved

The controversial redevelopment of the Maze prison site has been given the go ahead by the Department of the Environment.

Environment Minister Alex Attwood today granted planning permission for a Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre at the Maze.

The new building has been designed by internationally-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, along with McAdam Design.

Mr Libeskind's portfolio includes the Jewish Museum in Berlin and the Imperial War Museum in Manchester.

The decision to redevelop the Maze/Long Kesh site follows the recent approval for the relocation of the annual Balmoral show to the site.

A further application for minor works to the listed and retained buildings on the Maze site has also been granted planning permission.

But the proposals have been controversial from the off-set, with many unionists claiming that the new centre will become a 'shrine' for republican prisoners.

In 1981, ten prisoners, including Bobby Sands, starved themselves to death over the British government's refusal to grant them political concessions.

However, despite the controversy and protests, the Department of the Environment only received one official objection.

Minister Attwood said: "I have today granted permission for the proposed centre. There is learning to be taken from the conflict here. The centre can contribute to sharing this learning and perhaps to help inform the resolution of conflict in other places.

"I believe that good planning needs good design. That is certainly the case in the design of the Centre created by Daniel Libeskind, a world leader in architecture and a friend of Northern Ireland."

Alliance Lagan Valley MLA Trevor Lunn said: "Despite the controversy, this has the potential to be a major tourist attraction and information centre, much as other redundant prison sites such Alcatraz, Robben Island and Kilmainham have become.

"By having a peace building and conflict transformation centre, we can have a focal point for all those who wish to visit Northern Ireland to learn about our peace process, as well as being a valuable information source for students.

"This should provide a central location for all the expertise we have built up in peace building, especially in our community and voluntary sector."

Commenting on the speed of the planning decision, Alex Attwood said: "I was able to grant planning permission for such a major scheme like this in less than six months. This is another example of the benefit of pro-active pre-application discussion and community consultation in dealing with major planning applications of regional significance, such as this. This will play a significant part in meeting a target of the EU funding programme and I am determined to continue making major planning decisions speedily and accurately and making a planning system more fit to achieve its purpose."

(IT/CD)