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Sustainability - Economic, Social & Environmental

The three pillars of sustainability which support the physical regeneration are social, environmental and economic. It is the synergy between these elements which create success. For this reason BRL are currently reviewing and renewing the original Community Sustainable Strategy to encompass these three pillars, to identify priorities for action and targets which need to be achieved over the remainder of the programme.

Approaches to implementation include:

• the influencing of statutory, voluntary and community service providers
• the development of new initiatives and strategies
• the engagement of external expertise
• supporting service providers through transition
• planning for and providing suitable community facilities

Economic Development
To create a truly successful urban area, which is the central Masterplan objective, requires focused and ongoing policy and operational interventions as well as physical development.

The lack of economic activity in Ballymun in 1997 was highlighted at the outset and overcoming negative perceptions has required and will continue to need interventions over a range of issues to embed success.

A significant factor emerging from recent urban analysis is that economic development should not be equated solely with traditional manufacturing industry or indeed even high technology and R&D. Whilst it confirms that these ventures are more likely to be attracted and sustained by “successful urban places”, it is also interesting to note that places are also increasingly sustained by creating destinations within them. An awareness of the importance of creating destinations of a cultural orcommercial nature can be hugely significant in the creation of a sustainable or successful place.

Employment
Jobs are important to the regeneration strategy for a number of reasons. Jobs will provide opportunities for local people. Jobs, whether for people who live in Ballymun or outside of Ballymun, will generate economic activity and a cash flow in the area. Jobs will raise people’s standard of living and may influence their training and educational choices and standards.

The regeneration project has created considerable new employment opportunities in Ballymun over the last eight years. Since 1997 approximately 1,363 new jobs have been created in Ballymun. These new jobs have helped to stimulate the local economy and to fuel further economic growth.

It is estimated that there will be approximately 3,700 new jobs post-regeneration in Ballymun. In terms of construction opportunities all BRL construction contracts contain a clause requesting contractors to employ 20% of site labour from the local community. This has been facilitated by several initiatives including running one day FÁS Safe Pass courses and FÁS Construction Operative Training Programmes for people from Ballymun interested in working in construction.

Social Regeneration
Social Regeneration in Ballymun covers a wide range of strands. These include:

• Social Infrastructure
• Recreation
• Housing
• Education
• Community
• Safety

Environmental Sustainability
The local environment and its care and maintenance are vitally important to economic development, community safety and general well-being. BRL supports local environmental management by developing and implementing projects, which raise environmental awareness and cultivate a sense ofcivic pride among all residents of Ballymun. Among these projects are the following:

• A Tidy Towns Committee has been established which runs local annual competitions to complement the national programme.
• A farmers’ market operates monthly, selling organic produce and local arts and crafts.
• GAP (Global Action Plan) is significant in raising awareness and encouraging initiatives in the areas of waste management, energy and water conservation, gardening and litter control throughout the community and through schools programmes.
• A Biodiversity Plan is being developed to address increasing global and local interest and demand for the provision of biological diversity in urban settings.
• BRL is also seeking to assist local businesses in realising their potential contribution to environmental sustainability by developing a basic environmental management system (EMS).
• An innovative waste management facility - the Rediscovery Centre - is also being developed, in cooperation with the City Council,which will comprise a civic amenity site, resource recovery centre and educational facility which seeks to demonstrate excellence in waste prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery.