Public asked what to do with Maze
A major public consultation exercise to decide what to do with the site of the former top security Maze Prison in Co Antrim got under way today.
The 360-acre site of the former prison and adjoining army base is among several which the British government has agreed to transfer to the ownership of the Northern Ireland Executive, without charge, under the Chancellor’s Reinvestment and Reform Initiative.
The idea is that sites which symbolised the conflict can help underpin the peace process by becoming engines for economic and social regeneration.
The consultation process is being run by the Maze Consultation Panel which has among its members appointees of the four main political parties in the North, representatives of key government departments and Lisburn City Council in whose area the Maze is situated.
Launching the campaign panel chairman David Campbell appealed to everyone to play their part and for property developers, in particular, to “embrace the opportunities that this highly significant and valuable regional development site presents.”
He made it clear the panel team was starting with a blank canvas.
“All ideas are welcome. The panel’s policy is to rule nothing out and rule nothing in at this stage,” he said.
However proposals must meet one or more of the British government’s objectives for future use in terms of bringing economic, social and community benefits.
“The development of something new and innovative and the creation of an internationally recognised beacon for Northern Ireland,” was what they were looking for, he said.
The initial consultation period will run to the end of February next year, with a second two-month stage during which the panel will evaluate proposals before bring forward a report on the best development options.
