European Union Provides £4 Million for New Cross-community Resource Centre at Suffolk Road

02 August 2010

The first steps towards providing a new purpose built community resource centre on the site of the former Colin Glen Bacon factory at Suffolk Road by the end of 2012, are now underway. This follows the provision of approximately £4million from the EU’s PEACE III Programme.

Over the last 20 years the former Bacon factory has housed much needed community support services which include crèche facilities, after school club, counselling, education and training, family support and youth services. These have been provided by the Lenadoon Community Forum, the Lenadoon Women’s Group and the Glen Community Parent Youth Group.  The Emerald Boxing club is also located here.

Although the physical condition of the former mill building is very poor the demand for these services from the surrounding community, living on both sides of the Suffolk interface, has remained very high.

The Project Lead for the redevelopment of the Bacon Factory will be North and West Housing, a housing association with charitable status, who acquired the property in 2003 and built 120 social houses on the vacant ground to the rear of the mill, now known as Derryveagh Drive. Its housing office for the Belfast area is located there.

Following the temporary re-location of the community services to other work places nearby, North and West Housing has appointed a specialist contractor to demolish the vacant building and clear the site. Planning permission for the new building will be given early in 2011 and it is anticipated that construction will begin by the autumn of that year.

The total cost of the project is estimated at £4.5m with The Atlantic Philanthropies contributing £0.5m in addition to the £4m from the European Union. Much of the black stone which was a feature of the former mill will be reused in the new building. To ensure income generation two retail units will also be provided.
 
Social Development Minister Alex Attwood visited the site recently to view progress of this important cross-community project. He said: ‘'When complete this new building will provide a fit for purpose community facility at the Lenadoon/ Suffolk interface. It will create a shared space and support the delivery of the various peace, reconciliation and regeneration priorities for the area. I am delighted with the plans for this impressive development and progress to date.”

Accompanying the Minister in the visit, Pat Colgan, SEUPB Chief Executive, praised the commitment of the different partners involved. “It is extremely rewarding to see that people are willing to work together to ensure the continuity of important services, available to all members of the community, in better and more appropriate facilities. Promoting shared neutral space such as this is one of the key priorities of the PEACE III Programme and an essential step in helping to normalise social relationships within our community.”