Starch

good news at last!

Belfast’s Lyric theatre designed by O’Donnell + Tuomey is in line for a grant of more than £1m from Belfast City Council, the BBC has learned.
The £1,250,000 – from a £3m fund for cultural development – has been voted through by a committee, but has to be agreed by the full council.

The old building is due to close early next month for the £17m redevelopment, but before construction begins 95% of the cost had to have been raised.

If this grant is approved next month, the project can go ahead.

It is understood theatre management was worried that if the scheme is delayed, costs could spiral, holding up the whole process.

The new Lyric is to be built on the site of the current theatre on the banks of the River Lagan.

Last month the theatre was given £250,000 by the Foundation for Sport and the Arts.

In June, a private donor pledged £1m on top of the funding already promised by government departments.

development site http://www.supportthelyric.com/whyrebuild/index.html

images from the architects http://www.odonnell-tuomey.ie/webpage/lyric/lyric.htm

I think this is seriously bad shit that they are planning to use a private developer for this project after already spending £1 million on development plans and hugely successful (entrants) international competition; I would be disgusted if they did not go ahed with Henegan Peng’s scheme. …though reading today’s papers it seems that the tide is changing once again in favour of the HP……phewww

However I am confused about an element in all of this – the National Trust, which owns and provides access to the Causeway, has claimed that any development on previously undeveloped land could put at risk the area’s status as a world heritage site…..so how come they do not have the final say, if they feel like this U turn is a bad idea then do they have the power to say no…or is it because they are tied by the public funds allocated to it and they must go along with whatever? …also it appears in the papers that the relationship between the Minister Arlene Foster and the developer is also suspect

Good news today – Councillors Vote To Keep Giant’s Causeway Public

Councillors from Coleraine Borough Council have voted to keep the Giant’s Causeway Visitors’ Centre in public hands.
Several DUP councillors were among those who voted in favour of the motion, which was put forward by the SDLP’s council member John Dallat.

The move came after Environment Minister Arlene Foster revealed earlier this week that she is “of a mind to approve” a private application by developer and fellow DUP member Seymour Sweeney.

The move sparked Sinn Fein to call on the DUP to clarify its relationship with Mr Sweeney.

Ms Foster has dismissed claims that her decision was influenced by Mr Sweeney’s membership of the party as “rubbish”, while Mr Sweeney has said that while he is a member of the DUP, he has never given any money to the party.

Ms Foster has also hinted that she may consider taking legal action.

Enterprise Trade and Investment Minister Nigel Dodds said earlier this week that the project would cost more than £21 million and said that it would not be a “prudent use of taxpayers’ money” to proceed with the project, given Ms Foster’s consideration of the private planning application.

Mr Dodds said that his department and Northern Ireland Tourist Board had only become involved as “a potential developer of last resort”, because key stakeholders were “unable, over an extended period of time, to reach agreement”.

More than £1 million had been spent on the project so far by the department.

AND

DUP dissent over Causeway decision

Related Articles
Minister denies conflict of interest claims
Viewpoint: Consensus needed on Causeway centre
Watch this story on Belfast Telegraph TV
Wednesday, September 12, 2007

By David Gordon

The DUP leadership was facing grassroots dissent today over its decision to back a private sector visitor centre development for the Giant’s Causeway.

The party’s representatives on Coleraine Council last night joined with other parties to unanimously oppose the controversial plan favoured by DUP Ministers Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds.

And Coleraine’s DUP mayor today suggested that it could take legal action in the absence of a rethink.

Mrs Foster, the Stormont Environment Minister, stated this week that she was minded to give north coast developer Seymour Sweeney planning approval for a visitor complex project at the Causeway.

Mr Dodds responded by pulling the plug on his Department of Enterprise’s backing for a publicly funded development – to finally replace the centre destroyed by fire in 2000.

The National Trust, which owns the Causeway stones, voiced dismay at the Ministerial announcements.

Moyle Council, which owns the car park at the famous attraction, is due to discuss the situation on Friday.

Last night’s Coleraine vote was proposed by the SDLP’s John Dallat, who today described it as a “huge embarrassment” for the DUP’s high command.

He also said: “The Giant’s Causeway, while not our council area, is our ‘pot of gold’ in tourism terms.”

Coleraine DUP mayor, Maurice Bradley, today said legal action could be considered.

“We will wait until we get the response from the DoE minister but until the whole council gets that response we cannot make a decision.”

Mr Sweeney has confirmed that he is a DUP member. His links to the party were raised in an Assembly debate yesterday by Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Alliance.

The Environment Minister said she had been unaware of the developer’s affiliation and threatened to sue anyone who impugned her integrity.

Mrs Foster today said the Coleraine Council vote undermined claims of a DUP plot in favour of Mr Sweeney.

“I look at the application on its own right. If DUP councillors don’t agree, and I am sure they don’t agree with a lot of planning applications, that is a matter for them,” she said.

….could someone tell me how the rickshaws are doing in dublin…..I cycle one in Oxford and a tourist told me that they have them back at home?

i like zaha hadid’s proposal from the 70’s …… http://www.zaha-hadid.com/ …presentation wise it’s pretty sharp as well…. fickle i know

http://www.geocities.com/architecturedonegal

http://www.architecturedonegal.tk

european sacral and church buildings 1950-2000 – prestel publishing

…….some references

fantastic competition………are you entering this one tod?…..HERE
also results out today for architecture for humanity girls football pitch in South Africa another fantastic comp

….no offence man, but have you been typing with you’re forehead

why belfast? why on earth during our presidentancy would we go to a foreign country to celebrate this?

FIN….don’t be so harsh…….and don’t worry we’ll have a great time in Belfast!

it’s official….. click here

…what a mess

… there were 2 schemes announced joint winners…they then had to submit a cost analysis……..o’donnell and tuomey won it