NEWS
Restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland is welcome news for the region’s construction sector, according to Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB). Stormont’s return should unlock investment and boost economic and development opportunities, the consultancy said in its Construction Market Intelligence (CMI) report for Q1 2024. With a financial package worth £3.3bn pledged by the UK Treasury once power sharing returned, strain on public sector services should ease, while Stormont will be able to borrow more money to pay for infrastructure projects. The latest CMI report finds the stop/start nature of works in the public sector has impacted the region, with total volume of construction output remaining stagnant. Although there are clear plans for new-builds in the education, health and public sectors, progress has been slow due to funding cuts. Concern over inflationary costs remain, but steelwork has cooled back down to 2022 levels and materials demand has relaxed compared to last year. Increased activity is noted in the logistics and manufacturing sector. Retail remains active with large portfolio sales resulting in wholesale refurbishment and retrofit schemes. STORMONT’S RETURN EXPECTED TO BOOST CONSTRUCTION MARKET
MAJOR REGENERATION PLAN LAID OUT FOR BELFAST’S 10,000M WATERFRONT L-R: Councillor Clíodhna Nic Bhranair, Chair of Belfast City Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee, Kerrie Sweeney, CEO of Maritime Belfast Trust, and Oliver Schulze, co-founder and partner with Schulze+Grassov.
An ambitious 30-year plan has been launched to make Belfast “one of the world’s great waterfront cities” by redeveloping its coastline, one of the largest in Europe at 10,000m. Creating nine distinctive character areas such as Sailortown, Harbour Park and Up River, the Belfast Waterfront Framework is aimed at maximising its economic and social benefits. Plans include new pedestrian and cycle bridges across the Victoria Channel, public spaces, playgrounds, heritage trails, floating boardwalks, wetlands, moorings and cantilevered decking. It has been developed by the Belfast Waterfront Task Group, comprised of representatives
from charity Maritime Belfast Trust, Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour, Titanic Quarter Limited, Tourism NI and the departments for communities, infrastructure, economy and agriculture. Kerrie Sweeney, CEO of Maritime Belfast Trust, said, “Over the past 30 years Belfast has rediscovered its waterfront with projects such as the Lagan Weir, ICC Belfast, Odyssey Arena, Titanic Quarter and City Quays. “The Promenade framework, backed by all the key groups involved in Belfast’s waterfront, is the starting point for the next 30 years of development.” www.maritimebelfast.com
CEF URGES FUNDING CLARITY FOR STRULE CAMPUS
Northern Ireland’s recently restored Executive has been urged to provide clarity over funding for the Strule Shared Education Campus and other shared education projects.
The call, from the Construction Employers Federation (CEF), follows announcement of a green light for seven new-build school projects by Education Minister Paul Givan on February 20. Welcoming increased capital investment in education, Mark Spence, CEF Chief Executive, said, “However, of huge concern to the industry is the Minister’s comment that the money for the Strule Shared Education Campus and other shared education projects is no longer ringfenced. “This is the first time that it has been indicated that part of the UK government’s
£3.3bn funding package for the Executive includes £150m of the Fresh Start Agreement capital funding that was previously ringfenced for the Strule scheme.” With a squeezed capital budget, it is challenging to see how the £150m shortfall can be offset, he said. New-build schools given a go-ahead include Carrickfergus Academy; Loreto College, Coleraine; Dromore High School; Edmund Rice College, Newtownabbey; Portadown College; Mercy College, Belfast; and Malone Integrated College, Belfast.
Education Minister Paul Givan is pictured, third right, with Principal Ian McConaghy, far right, members of the Board of Governors, Head Girl and Head Boy of Dromore High School.
14 | NI BUILDER
FOLLOW US ON:
www.nibuilder.co.uk
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online