Equality Screening - Five Cs Public Realm Project

The Council has a statutory duty to screen. This includes our strategies, plans, policies, legislative developments; and new ways of working such as the introduction, change or end of an existing service, grant funding arrangement or facility. This screening template is designed to help departments consider the likely equality impacts of their proposed decisions on different groups of customers, service users, staff and visitors.    

Before carrying out an equality screening exercise it is important that you have received the necessary training first. To find out about the training needed or any other queries on screening, contact the Equality and Diversity Officer (job-share) Lorraine Dennis on extension 6027or by email equality@belfastcity.gov.uk

The accompanying Screening Guidance note provides straightforward advice on how to carry out equality screening exercises.  Detailed information about the Section 75 equality duties and what they mean in practice is available on the Equality Commission’s website [Footnote 1].

The screening template has 4 sections to complete. These are:

Section A - provides details about the policy or decision that is being screened

Section B – gives information on the consultation process, supporting evidence gathered and has 4 key questions outlining the likely impacts on all equality groups.

Section C - has 4 key questions in relation to obligations under the Disability Discrimination Order

Section D - is the formal record of the screening decision.

Section A

Details about the policy or decision to be screened

1. Title of policy or decision to be screened:-

The Five Cs Public Realm Project

2. Brief description of policy or decision to be screened:-

The Developer Contributions Framework has been produced to provide advice and guidance on Belfast City Council’s approach to securing Developer Contributions as part of the planning application process. The Council has routinely used planning agreements to secure Developer Contributions since the transfer of planning powers to local government in 2015. Their use is supported by legislation and planning policy. The Framework has been produced for use by Developers, Elected Members, the general public and Planning Officers in the assessment of planning applications within the Belfast area.

The Five Cs Project is the first project to be progressed using Developer Contributions. It is a public realm scheme which aims to enhance several areas within Belfast city centre which have recently seen, or will soon see, significant private sector investment, but where the streetscape is poor and in need of improvement. The streets included in this project are adjacent to previous Public Realm Improvement Works completed under Belfast Streets Ahead Phase 1- these improvements emphasize the current poor condition of the project area. The Five Cs project area comprises College Court, College Avenue (from King Street to College Street), College Street (from College Avenue to Queen Street), Callender Street and Chichester Street (south side from Victoria Street to Donegall Square East and the north side from Arthur Street to Callender Street).

The project aims to create a high quality, sustainable public realm with improved surfacing, street lighting, soft landscaping, street furniture and public artwork. The intended outcome is that it will contribute positively to the economic, environmental and social vitality of the project area; that it will encourage business into these areas; that it will create more attractive civic spaces; that it will create or improve safety within these areas that will encourage people to visit, work, shop and live therein. The scheme will be designed in line with current standards and best practice to promote and enable access for all.

3. Aims and objectives of the policy or decision to be screened:

The aims, objectives and outcomes of the Five Cs Project have been devised based on the Public Realm Strategy Principles, the Belfast City Centre Public Realm Masterplan (and update) and are as follows:

• To have improved the physical appearance of College Court, College Street and College Avenue by investing in improvements to pavements, carriageway and street lighting;
• To have improved the physical appearance of Chichester Street by investing in improvements to pavements, carriageway, soft landscaping and street lighting;
• To have improved the physical appearance of Callender Street by investing in improvements to pavements, carriageway and street lighting.

In developing the design for The Five Cs, the project team focused on achieving the following aspirations:

• To contribute to establishing Belfast as a place where people want to visit, live, work and play
• A place that local population are proud of and visitors want to return to
• Design streets to be inclusive
• Foster economic growth by providing a pleasant environment stimulating inward investment
• Enhance pedestrian safety for all
• Improve space for active travel (walking and cycling)
• Contributing to the sustainability of the city centre through:
• “Greening” the city
• Providing infrastructure that contributes to air quality improvements
• Creating sustainable urban drainage systems where feasible.

4. On whom will the policy or decision impact?

Consider the internal and external impacts (both actual or potential) and explain:

Staff: Yes

Belfast City Council’s City Regeneration and Development Division are working in Partnership with DfC to co- deliver the project and will work closely with colleagues in Place and Economy Department and cross Council Departments to consult on design development and through the construction works stage.

Service users: Yes

It is envisaged that the project will impact on traders, businesses, shoppers and persons using the transport network and streets.

Other public sector organisations: Yes

DfC are the Lead Partner of this project with BCC. Others that will be involved include: DfI, Housing Executive, Transport NI, BCCM, BID ONE.

Voluntary, community groups or trade unions: Yes
IMTAC, Sustrans, RNIB, NI Greenways

Others, specify: Yes

All those who live in, work in, study, invest in or visits the city.

5. Are there linkages to other Agencies or Departments?

The Department for Communities (DfC) in partnership with Belfast City Council is planning to deliver public realm improvements in Belfast City Centre. Doran Consulting have been commissioned as the Integrated Design Team.

The Developer Contributions Framework is supported by existing legislation and the current planning policy framework. Linkages include the Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland (SPPS) and other relevant Planning Policy Statement’s which fall under the Department for Infrastructure’s (DfI) Planning Policy Division.

Section B

Information on the consultation process, supporting evidence gathered and has 4 key questions outlining the likely impacts for equality and good relations

6. Outline consultation process planned or achieved

To date, there has been targeted stakeholder engagement and wider public consultation during design development which has been held virtually due to the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic and in line with Government Guidance on Public Consultation.

Targeted engagement included Elected Members, interest groups (RNIB, IMTAC, Sustrans, NI Greenways, BCCM, BID ONE and the Chamber of Trade and Commerce), as well as representatives from DfI and DfC. Feedback received has enabled Stakeholders to participate in design development that will influence and shape the public realm improvements.

To support access to design information, a project website was set up https://www.thefivecs.info, with a 12 week public consultation period opened from 30 September 2020 until 22 December 2020- comments on the proposals could be left at https://www.thefivecs.info/have-your-say/.

There were three public events held on 8 to 10 December 2020 via Teams.

User Surveys were publicised through BCC and DfC websites.

Business Surveys were sent by DfC to city centre businesses.

7. Available evidence

What evidence or information (both qualitative and quantitative) have you gathered to inform this policy? Set out all evidence below to help inform your screening assessment.

It is important to record information gathered from a variety of sources such as: monitoring information; complaints; research surveys; consultation exercises from other public authorities.

Policy Context

Developer Contributions Framework

The Council has routinely used planning agreements to secure Developer Contributions since the transfer of planning powers to Local Government in 2015. Their use is supported by Legislation and Planning Policy. The guidance contained in the Framework brings together existing regional and local planning policies on the use of planning agreements and Developer Contributions and sets out the Council’s interpretation of these policies. This Framework has been produced for use by Developers, Elected Members, the general public and by Planning Officers in the assessment of planning applications within the Belfast area.

Regional

The NI Programme for Government (draft), NI Industrial Strategy (draft), the UK Industrial Strategy and the emerging Industrial Programme being developed by the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) partners provide clear Policy Frameworks that promote investment and innovation in the growing knowledge economy and tourism sector.

The Regional Development Strategy 2035 (RDS) is the Spatial Strategy for the Northern Ireland Executive and provides an overarching Planning Framework to facilitate and guide development. The RDS provides Regional Guidance (RG) and Spatial Framework Guidance (SFG) under the three sustainable development themes of the Economy, Society and Environment.

The Spatial Framework Guidance 3 (SPG) specifically recognises the need to enhance the distinctive role of Belfast City Centre as the primary retail location in Northern Ireland. In relation to future major retail development proposals, it promotes a precautionary approach to out-of-town shopping development, given the likely adverse impact on the city centre area. The Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) advocates a town centre approach for the location and future of retailing and other main town centre uses. This policy aims to encourage better decision-making through supporting and sustaining vibrant centres through Local Development Plans (LDPs).

Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS)

A final Equality Screening report was published alongside the SPPS in September 2015. As the high level Strategic Planning Policy Statement for NI, there are no specific policies within the SPPS that directly infringe upon the Framework. However, the screening report notes that the SPPS, and the planning system generally, “is for securing the orderly and consistent development of land across Northern Ireland under a two-tier planning system”. It concludes that “it will be uniformly applied across all Section 75 categories without prejudice” and, as such, “will not positively or negatively discriminate towards” and Section 75 groups. It is, in fact, expected to equally benefit all Section 75 groups”.

Emerging Local Development Plan

The Plan Strategy (draft) was launched at the end of August 2018. ‘Creating a Vibrant Economy’ is one of the primary aims of the plan to strengthen Belfast as the Regional economic driver. It recognises that for our city centre to remain successful, it needs to be the focus for major new investment and retail development. It will encourage a mix of different shops and services and decide where these should be located. The retail policies within the LDP will seek to address current and future retailing needs over the plan period. It will therefore aim to:

• Provide a range of uses appropriate to the role and function of a city centre which can realise ambitions for growth.
• Acknowledge the distinctive role of Belfast City Centre as the primary location for retailing in the region.
• Adopt a sequential approach to the identification of retail and other town centre uses decision-making.
• Maintain and improve accessibility to and within the city centre by supporting connectivity.
• Support local economies by ensuring continued vibrancy and vitality.
• Develop a compact urban form that maximises opportunities in the city centre.
• Provide a focus for economic development.

Belfast Agenda

The vision for Belfast in 2035 set out in the Belfast Agenda is:

Belfast will be a city re-imagined and resurgent. A great place to live and work for everyone. Beautiful, well connected and culturally vibrant, it will be a sustainable city shared and loved by all its citizens, free from the legacy of conflict. A compassionate city offering opportunities for everyone. A confident and successful city energising a dynamic and prosperous city region. A magnet for talent and business and admired around the world. A city people dream to visit.

The Belfast Agenda has ambitious targets of:

• 46,000 additional jobs
• 66,000 additional residents
• Attract over £1 billion in private sector investment
• Create 4,000 Business Start-Ups
• Grow the City’s Rate Base by 5 per cent through an increased number of residential and commercial developments
• Increase the percentage of residents satisfied with the city living experience

City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy

The City Centre Regeneration and Investment Strategy outlines an exciting vision to develop a world-class city centre for the future.

A thriving city centre is vital to the prosperity of the whole city and the region. Around two-thirds of all jobs in Belfast are located in and around the city centre, so everything that we do to enhance it will benefit the city as a whole.

The strategy sets out our collective ambition for the continued growth and regeneration of the city core and its surrounding areas to 2030. It has been shaped by extensive engagement with stakeholders and contains a roadmap of policies to guide city centre decision-making and key projects that translate those policies into action.

Core Principles

We are determined that the regeneration of our city centre will drive not just economic growth but social benefits. The strategy therefore includes a commitment to ongoing engagement with local people to ensure that the social impact of regeneration is maximised.

The strategy is based on eight core policies. It will aim to:

• increase the employment population
• increase the residential population
• manage the retail offer
• maximise the tourism opportunity
• create a regional learning and innovation centre
• create a green centre, accessible to cyclists and walkers
• connect to the city around
• enhance shared space and social impact

Implementation

Now that the strategy has been finalised, the focus will be on delivery to realise aspirations for the city centre by ensuring that the projects, policies and opportunities described are followed through and delivered.

This Strategy sets out Belfast City Council’s ambition for continued growth and regeneration of the city core to 2030 and contains policies to guide decision-making and key projects to drive economic growth and deliver social benefits.

The principles of BCCRIS include increasing the employment and residential population, managing retail, maximising tourism, creating a learning and innovation centre and a green centre. City connectivity, shared space and social impact are also key values. BCCRIS also identifies five special action areas within the city centre which have been progressed through master plans implemented by the Council.

8. What is the likely impact (indicate if the policy impact is positive or negative) on equality of opportunity for those affected by this policy, for each of the Section 75 equality categories?  What is the level of impact? 

9. Are there opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity for people within the Section 75 equalities categories? 

10. To what extent is the policy likely to impact (positive or negatively) on good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group? What is the level of impact?

11. Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?

Section C

Belfast City Council also has legislative obligations to meet under the Disability Discrimination Order and Questions 12-13 relate to these two areas. Consideration of Disability Duties

12. Does this proposed policy or decision provide an opportunity for the Council to better promote positive attitudes towards disabled people?

Key Section 75 Stakeholders have been engaged during the development of this project and their views have been incorporated into Concept Design.

13. Does this proposed policy or decision provide an opportunity to actively increase the participation by disabled people in public life?

Key Section 75 Stakeholders have been engaged during the development of this project and their views have been incorporated into Concept Design.

14. Multiple Identities Provide details of data on the impact of the policy with multiple identities

Not applicable.

Specify relevant Section 75 categories concerned.

15. Monitoring Arrangements

Section 75 places a requirement the Council to have equality monitoring arrangements in place in order to assess the impact of policies and services etc; and to help identify barriers to fair participation and to better promote equality of opportunity. Outline what data you will collect in the future in order to monitor the impact of this policy / decision on equality, good relations and disability duties.

Section D

Formal Record of Screening Decision

Title of Proposed Policy or Decision being screened

The Five Cs Public Realm Project

I can confirm that the proposed policy or decision has been screened for –

On the basis of the answers to the screening questions, I recommend that this policy or decision is:

*Screened Out – No EQIA necessary (no impacts)

Provide a brief note here to explain how this decision was reached:

Key Section 75 Stakeholders have been engaged during the development of this project and their views have been incorporated in the design development.

If at a later stage it is deemed necessary for a full EQIA this will be undertaken by the DfC as Lead Partner.Screening assessment completed by (Officer Level) –

Name: Simon Rees
Date: 11 February 2021
Department: Place and Economy

Screening decision approved by –

Name: Richard Griffin
Date: 18 May 2021
Department: Place and Economy

For more information about equality screening contact:

Lorraine Dennis Equality and Diversity Officer (job-share)
Belfast City Council
City Hall
Belfast
BT1 5GS
Phone: 028 9027 0511
Email: equality@belfastcity.gov.uk

[Footnote 1] http://www.equalityni.org/archive/pdf/S75GuideforPublicAuthoritiesApril2010.pdf