creating a new vision: scope for a great and scale city the
TRANSCRIPT
DISCOVER MORE AT WWW.TRANSLINK.CO.UK/THEHUB This document is
available in a range of alternative formats, for example large
print, braille or audio tape.
To order copies please call the Translink Call Centre on 028 9066 6630 or Textphone 028 9038 7505.
Design by whitenoisestudios.com
CREATING A NEW VISION: SCOPE AND SCALE The time is right for this exciting opportunity for Belfast to be delivered. Translink will be rebuilding the Europa Buscentre and Great Victoria Street station area to provide a facility that will meet all the needs of a modern integrated transport hub. The location enjoys excellent access from all the main road corridors and is but a few minutes’ walk from the very heart
of the city centre.
LAND DEVELOPMENT In addition to the Transport Hub building there is circa ten acres of land, which will be made available by Translink for further development. This is a unique opportunity for a prime city centre site to embrace a wider social dimension: to be part of a ‘bigger idea’ of development for the common good. The land could be used for a number of purposes: office development, hotel and leisure, as well as residential, community and creative arts use. Such regeneration of an underutilised patch of land will benefit the city and
contribute to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Northern Ireland.
THE GATEWAY TO BELFAST AND NORTHERN IRELAND The new transport hub in Belfast will improve and increase access to the city centre and connections across the region and beyond. By freeing up the road network, congested by private car and single car occupancy in particular, we can actively contribute to the efficiency of the region and positively impact GVA as well as contributing to our environmental sustainability goals.
A NEW HEART FOR A GREAT CITY Since the late 1990s Belfast’s economy has been one of the fastest growing in the UK. The same unprecedented growth is also true of public transport in Northern Ireland; there has been huge growth in usage of bus and rail services, particularly in Belfast where the main bus and rail terminus is
operating at capacity and will struggle to meet future needs.
RECORD NUMBERS USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearly 80 million passenger journeys are made on the NI public transport infrastructure each year. Last year a record 11.5 million passenger journeys were made by rail - over twice the number since the current Great Victoria Street station was designed and built in 1995. Goldline coach services (the busiest services operate primarily in and out of Belfast) have continued to grow in the recession: the number of journeys made on Goldline services has increased by 45% over the last 8 years. The footfall for Great Victoria Street Station/Europa Buscentre is currently around 6.7 million people per annum - a staggering figure that is comparable to the combined passenger numbers for Northern Ireland’s airports at 6.8 million. Projections indicate that the current footfall could increase to at least 13 million by 2030. There is clearly a pressing need for a new Belfast Transport Hub to cater for current demand and future growth. A new hub will offer customers a fully integrated transport solution: a destination catering for rail, bus and coach,
taxi, car and bicycle users.
IMAGINING A NEW HEART IN THE CITY
NEARLY
TRANSPORT
Design by whitenoisestudios.com
EUROPA BUSCENTRE PER ANNUM
LAND VALUES IN VICINITY INCREASED BY
67% GB EXPERIENCE
77% 463
CONSTRUCTION 2,500 POTENTIAL JOBS CREATED
THROUGH LAND DEVELOPMENT
100% INTEGRATED TRANSPORT
SOLUTION FOR BELFAST
THE CITY CENTRE
CREATING JOBS AND WEALTH The Hub will be a high class Gateway and create a fantastic first impression of Belfast as a progressive and confident capital city. Last year Northern Ireland attracted 1.5 million visitors, contributing £367 million to the economy. The new Transport Hub will efficiently deliver regular travellers and visitors to the city centre and positively assist the ongoing development of the tourism product that boosts the region’s economy. Because of the increase in the platform capacity of the new Hub, the Belfast to Dublin Enterprise service will be relocated there and provide a springboard for improved service delivery for travellers - a more convenient terminus for onward travel and the opportunity to increase the service frequency. Translink recently commissioned Grant Thornton UK LLP to assess the impact of the new Hub project and they reported that it has the potential to create/safeguard 370 direct jobs and 93 indirect jobs in the construction period of the project, contributing £21m GVA (Gross Value Added measures the regional Gross Domestic Product). If the development of the surrounding land is taken into account, then Belfast and Northern Ireland could benefit from an additional 2,500 jobs, contributing £56m GVA. Importantly, the Hub ensures that the future commercial growth of Belfast is not constrained because travel demand cannot be met.
SIMILAR EXPERIENCE IN GREAT BRITAIN AND EUROPE Experience in Great Britain and Europe shows that investing in public transport infrastructure, particularly this type of project, improves the public transport experience and very positively impacts local and often regional economies; a catalyst for regeneration This is evidenced in cities including London, Manchester, Sheffield and Nottingham and in Europe, Antwerp and Lille are notable examples. In addition to providing benefits for passengers, these major transport projects have unlocked development potential of property around the stations and as a result many towns and cities have seen increased investment and employment.
THE SHEFFIELD EXPERIENCE • 77% increase in total station entry/exits (2003-09), which compares to a national average of 42% for the same period. • 67% increase in land values within a 400m radius of the station between 2003 and 2008, which was three times the average increase for the rest of Sheffield over the same time period. • Major inward investors cited improvements in the quality of the station and public realm as a key factor in deciding to relocate businesses to the city.
Network Rail report that a 10% change (improvement) in rail connectivity can increase the number of jobs within a given area by up to 14%.
COMMUNITY REGENERATION The residential areas neighbouring the Hub site, notably Sandy Row and the Lower Falls in West Belfast, have experienced years of economic decline. There is a strong desire locally and within the NI Executive to revitalise these areas. Every effort will be made to ensure these communities participate in the economic benefits that will be associated with both the Hub redevelopment project and the development of the land. Steer Davies Gleave’s ‘The Value of Station Investment - Research on Regenerative Impacts’ report, November 2011, asserts that “a well-designed station environment can improve the image of the place it serves, making it more attractive to live, work and invest…”
WHAT NOW? This project has appeal on all levels - to users of public transport; locally-based businesses and local residents. It offers real economic benefits for Belfast and the region in challenging times when opportunities have been limited. Seize this chance to be part of something that will be the catalyst for growth for Belfast and benefit the whole of Northern Ireland and get behind the Hub!
...THE BELFAST HUB WILL DRIVE
GROWTH AND CHANGE
To order copies please call the Translink Call Centre on 028 9066 6630 or Textphone 028 9038 7505.
Design by whitenoisestudios.com
CREATING A NEW VISION: SCOPE AND SCALE The time is right for this exciting opportunity for Belfast to be delivered. Translink will be rebuilding the Europa Buscentre and Great Victoria Street station area to provide a facility that will meet all the needs of a modern integrated transport hub. The location enjoys excellent access from all the main road corridors and is but a few minutes’ walk from the very heart
of the city centre.
LAND DEVELOPMENT In addition to the Transport Hub building there is circa ten acres of land, which will be made available by Translink for further development. This is a unique opportunity for a prime city centre site to embrace a wider social dimension: to be part of a ‘bigger idea’ of development for the common good. The land could be used for a number of purposes: office development, hotel and leisure, as well as residential, community and creative arts use. Such regeneration of an underutilised patch of land will benefit the city and
contribute to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Northern Ireland.
THE GATEWAY TO BELFAST AND NORTHERN IRELAND The new transport hub in Belfast will improve and increase access to the city centre and connections across the region and beyond. By freeing up the road network, congested by private car and single car occupancy in particular, we can actively contribute to the efficiency of the region and positively impact GVA as well as contributing to our environmental sustainability goals.
A NEW HEART FOR A GREAT CITY Since the late 1990s Belfast’s economy has been one of the fastest growing in the UK. The same unprecedented growth is also true of public transport in Northern Ireland; there has been huge growth in usage of bus and rail services, particularly in Belfast where the main bus and rail terminus is
operating at capacity and will struggle to meet future needs.
RECORD NUMBERS USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT Nearly 80 million passenger journeys are made on the NI public transport infrastructure each year. Last year a record 11.5 million passenger journeys were made by rail - over twice the number since the current Great Victoria Street station was designed and built in 1995. Goldline coach services (the busiest services operate primarily in and out of Belfast) have continued to grow in the recession: the number of journeys made on Goldline services has increased by 45% over the last 8 years. The footfall for Great Victoria Street Station/Europa Buscentre is currently around 6.7 million people per annum - a staggering figure that is comparable to the combined passenger numbers for Northern Ireland’s airports at 6.8 million. Projections indicate that the current footfall could increase to at least 13 million by 2030. There is clearly a pressing need for a new Belfast Transport Hub to cater for current demand and future growth. A new hub will offer customers a fully integrated transport solution: a destination catering for rail, bus and coach,
taxi, car and bicycle users.
IMAGINING A NEW HEART IN THE CITY
NEARLY
TRANSPORT
Design by whitenoisestudios.com
EUROPA BUSCENTRE PER ANNUM
LAND VALUES IN VICINITY INCREASED BY
67% GB EXPERIENCE
77% 463
CONSTRUCTION 2,500 POTENTIAL JOBS CREATED
THROUGH LAND DEVELOPMENT
100% INTEGRATED TRANSPORT
SOLUTION FOR BELFAST
THE CITY CENTRE
CREATING JOBS AND WEALTH The Hub will be a high class Gateway and create a fantastic first impression of Belfast as a progressive and confident capital city. Last year Northern Ireland attracted 1.5 million visitors, contributing £367 million to the economy. The new Transport Hub will efficiently deliver regular travellers and visitors to the city centre and positively assist the ongoing development of the tourism product that boosts the region’s economy. Because of the increase in the platform capacity of the new Hub, the Belfast to Dublin Enterprise service will be relocated there and provide a springboard for improved service delivery for travellers - a more convenient terminus for onward travel and the opportunity to increase the service frequency. Translink recently commissioned Grant Thornton UK LLP to assess the impact of the new Hub project and they reported that it has the potential to create/safeguard 370 direct jobs and 93 indirect jobs in the construction period of the project, contributing £21m GVA (Gross Value Added measures the regional Gross Domestic Product). If the development of the surrounding land is taken into account, then Belfast and Northern Ireland could benefit from an additional 2,500 jobs, contributing £56m GVA. Importantly, the Hub ensures that the future commercial growth of Belfast is not constrained because travel demand cannot be met.
SIMILAR EXPERIENCE IN GREAT BRITAIN AND EUROPE Experience in Great Britain and Europe shows that investing in public transport infrastructure, particularly this type of project, improves the public transport experience and very positively impacts local and often regional economies; a catalyst for regeneration This is evidenced in cities including London, Manchester, Sheffield and Nottingham and in Europe, Antwerp and Lille are notable examples. In addition to providing benefits for passengers, these major transport projects have unlocked development potential of property around the stations and as a result many towns and cities have seen increased investment and employment.
THE SHEFFIELD EXPERIENCE • 77% increase in total station entry/exits (2003-09), which compares to a national average of 42% for the same period. • 67% increase in land values within a 400m radius of the station between 2003 and 2008, which was three times the average increase for the rest of Sheffield over the same time period. • Major inward investors cited improvements in the quality of the station and public realm as a key factor in deciding to relocate businesses to the city.
Network Rail report that a 10% change (improvement) in rail connectivity can increase the number of jobs within a given area by up to 14%.
COMMUNITY REGENERATION The residential areas neighbouring the Hub site, notably Sandy Row and the Lower Falls in West Belfast, have experienced years of economic decline. There is a strong desire locally and within the NI Executive to revitalise these areas. Every effort will be made to ensure these communities participate in the economic benefits that will be associated with both the Hub redevelopment project and the development of the land. Steer Davies Gleave’s ‘The Value of Station Investment - Research on Regenerative Impacts’ report, November 2011, asserts that “a well-designed station environment can improve the image of the place it serves, making it more attractive to live, work and invest…”
WHAT NOW? This project has appeal on all levels - to users of public transport; locally-based businesses and local residents. It offers real economic benefits for Belfast and the region in challenging times when opportunities have been limited. Seize this chance to be part of something that will be the catalyst for growth for Belfast and benefit the whole of Northern Ireland and get behind the Hub!
...THE BELFAST HUB WILL DRIVE
GROWTH AND CHANGE