From our Physical Regeneration Officer, Jim McKinley...

As Regeneration Officer of the Donegall Pass Community Forum, my remit is to oversee the enhancement of the Donegall Pass area, with special reference to Posnett Street - presently a car park.  Posnett Street is the gateway to the Donegall Pass Community, from the Botanic area, and the challenge for the community is to create a mixed development that will not only be of benefit to the community but will blend in with the ongoing development of the Botanic area.

This an exciting challenge and, to achieve this goal, I have set up a Community Development Company whose board members include representatives from the two universities and a property developer. The board is determined that the Posnett Street development will become a paradigm of best practice for other inner city communities striving, like ourselves, to achieve an ideal balance between development and the environment.

The work, however, will not stop with Posnett Street - as I see this as only a beginning for the Donegall Pass area.  Again, my vision will see the main Donegall Pass thoroughfare become a place that attracts people; for example, the Pass thoroughfare could become an ‘extension’ of Botanic Avenue, with a “café culture” in an enhanced environment.

Funding has to be found to transform the Donegall Pass with street furniture, hanging baskets and green spaces.  New buildings will be developed in keeping with the rich architecture that already exists.

At the time of writing, an outline proposal has been submitted to a major funder to enable the Community to purchase one of the large derelict buildings on Donegall Pass. It is envisaged that this will become a “one-stop shop” to serve the local and surrounding communities.

Because the Donegall Pass area is located in close proximity to the city centre, major speculative developers are presenting a serious challenge to the Community and its efforts to empower and sustain itself. I see my role in this potentially disruptive issue as encouraging developers to realise that it is in their interests to recognise that they have a social responsibility to deliver a ‘community benefit’ to this inner city deprived area, as in other similar localities, and, in consultation with community representatives, reach an agreed modus operandi that results in obviating potentially negative impacts and achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.

Formidable challenges face the Donegall Pass Community in its efforts to regenerate, renew and revitalise itself - but I am confident that, with the resources and backing of other stakeholders in the renewal effort, these will be met and overcome, and the future of this historic area remains an exciting and prosperous one.