Belfast (Hansard, 11 May 1995)

§ Dr. Hendron
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the aims and objectives of the Belfast urban area plan 2001; and how these objectives fit into the aims of the strategy for making Belfast work published in March. [23105]

§ Mr. Moss
The aims and objectives of the Belfast urban area plan 2001 are set out on pages 7 and 16 of the plan, a copy of which is available in the Library. The main focus of the making Belfast work strategy is to increase opportunities for residents of MBW areas to secure employment and to improve their quality of life. These aims complement those set out in the Belfast urban area plan 2001.

§ Dr. Hendron
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how relevant the Belfast urban area plan 2001 now is; if the Department of the Environment proposes to undertake a review of the plan; and if the public will be invited to put forward their views. [23106]

§ Mr. Moss
The Belfast urban area plan 2001 remains the statutory plan for Belfast. The Department is currently carrying out a reassessment of development land to ascertain the anticipated requirement for a further release of land reserved for housing in the second phase of the plan. When the draft proposals are published, this will afford the public the opportunity to make representations and a public local inquiry may be held for the purposes of hearing those representations which cannot be resolved.

§ Dr. Hendron
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the Department of the Environment is co-ordinating the overall improvement process in Belfast and the different elements of that process; and how elected representatives are involved in these matters. [23107]

§ Mr. Moss
The Department of the Environment co-ordinates the overall improvement process in Belfast through the Belfast development office and the making Belfast work initiative. The Belfast development office has responsibility for physical development in close consultation with the Department's planning service. The making Belfast work initiative acts as a catalyst in providing funding to the public, private and voluntary sectors for social and economic programmes in disadvantaged areas.
547W
Elected representatives are involved in these matters through direct contact and correspondence with officials and Ministers and through the Department's statutory obligations to consult Belfast city council on planning matters.