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North Belfast peace line interface to be transformed in £440,000 project

Work begins on transforming the loyalist side of the peace line along Crumlin Road in north Belfast. Picture Mal McCann
Work begins on transforming the loyalist side of the peace line along Crumlin Road in north Belfast. Picture Mal McCann Work begins on transforming the loyalist side of the peace line along Crumlin Road in north Belfast. Picture Mal McCann

A PEACE line interface in north Belfast is being transformed as part of a £440,000 redevelopment project.

Work is under way in the Rosebank, Columbia and Leopold Street area near Crumlin Road in a bid to bring a derelict space back into community use.

Art installations, road and kerbing improvements, and a new peace line gate are being installed in the initiative.

It is the second major interface barrier in the area, owned by the Housing Executive (NIHE), to be transformed in the past year.

Last year an 8ft high peace wall that separated nationalist and unionist homes on Crumlin Road near Ardoyne was removed and replaced with railings and landscaped greenery.

Read more: What is a peace wall?

The late Martin McGuinness was among those who attended an event in August last year to mark the completion of the project, which followed eight years of community discussions.

Construction work on the latest community-led initiative began last week.

It is supported by the NIHE, the International Fund for Ireland, and Stormont's justice and infrastructure departments as part of the executive's good relations strategy, 'Together – Building a United Community' (TBUC).

The £290,000 improvement works were funded by the Stormont executive and NIHE through the Department of Justice-led strand of TBUC.

A further £150,000 has been allocated under TBUC for road and footpath improvements being carried out by the Department for Infrastructure in the Rosebank, Columbia and Leopold Sreet area.

Work begins on modifying the Peacewall on the loyalist side of the Crumlin Road Picture Mal McCann.
Work begins on modifying the Peacewall on the loyalist side of the Crumlin Road Picture Mal McCann. Work begins on modifying the Peacewall on the loyalist side of the Crumlin Road Picture Mal McCann.

Ian McLaughlin, of the Woodvale Steering Group, said the agreed changes follow a series of community meetings and consultation events.

"This is an example of positive engagement between residents, elected representatives and the Housing Executive, who facilitated the local dialogue," he said.

"It will see a derelict area brought back into community use and bring positive benefits to local residents, including the physical regeneration of the Crumlin Road."

Colm McQuillan, NIHE director of housing services, said: "This is a community-led project, developed by the community with key stakeholders.

Work begins on modifying the Peacewall on the loyalist side of the Crumlin Road Picture Mal McCann.
Work begins on modifying the Peacewall on the loyalist side of the Crumlin Road Picture Mal McCann. Work begins on modifying the Peacewall on the loyalist side of the Crumlin Road Picture Mal McCann.

"They are to be congratulated as this is a significant step forward. We want to work with communities to enable them to take the steps they need to move forward.

"The physical transformation of this interface location will play a role in the regeneration of the area for everyone in the community and will change the physical environment for those residents who live in the Woodvale area."

Work begins on modifying the Peacewall on the loyalist side of the Crumlin Road Picture Mal McCann.
Work begins on modifying the Peacewall on the loyalist side of the Crumlin Road Picture Mal McCann. Work begins on modifying the Peacewall on the loyalist side of the Crumlin Road Picture Mal McCann.
View from loyalist side of fence: Work begins on modifying the Peacewall on the loyalist side of the Crumlin Road Picture Mal McCann.
View from loyalist side of fence: Work begins on modifying the Peacewall on the loyalist side of the Crumlin Road Picture Mal McCann. View from loyalist side of fence: Work begins on modifying the Peacewall on the loyalist side of the Crumlin Road Picture Mal McCann.