Tenants First Demands Action on Regeneration Plans
6 Jun 2008
'Tenants First' Demands Action on Regeneration Plans
The Tenants First organisation (representative of community organisations and residents associations in six areas effected by regeneration in Dublin) have condemned the approach taken by both the government and Dublin City Council to the development of communities, following the collapse of five regeneration schemes based on the Public Private Partnership model.
The failure of this model to deliver has contributed further disillusionment and uncertainty to the already poor living conditions endured by these communities throughout the regeneration process to date. The organisation directly attributes this to:
The absolutely unacceptable decision at government level to entrust the provision of public housing to private developer interests. It is outlandish to imagine that access to affordable housing and adequate community facilities has been left to the whims of the market - and to the needs of developers for particular profit margins.
The failure to fully involve community interests in the decision-making process. Residents have contributed thousands of hours on a voluntary basis to the planning and design process, but are left to discover from the press and media when it comes to fundamental decisions about their future. Although nominally seen as 'partners' in the regeneration process. Residents in all these areas are still struggling to establish the precise reasons for the collapse of the process - much less the implications for the future of their families and communities.
The Tenants First Organisation is now calling for:
1. The Department of the Environment and Dublin City Council to take open and full responsibility for the immediate implementation of plans already developed for these five areas.
2. The establishment of a real and meaningful partnership with community representatives in this process. Methods by which the developments are carried out should be negotiated with residents - taking into account:
The absolute imperative that all needs identified in relation to community facilities and amenities (as well as housing) are met.
The need to minimise hardship caused to community (and especially more vulnerable members of the community) during redevelopment.
The need to build meaningful working relationships with communities - based on an acknowledgement of the need to build sustainable partnerships, and not on the practice of informing one partner 'after the event;.
3. The establishment of a higher level 'Review Group' - to assess all policy aspects of community regeneration - including public, social and affordable housing. These areas - and many more in Dublin and elsewhere - have suffered generations of neglect. There has to be better way of building sustainable and inclusive communities than abandoning their futures to the profit-driven needs of property developers.
For further information on this issue see http://www.indymedia.ie/article/87727
