For any new development to be successful, it has to have the backing of the users, in this instance the adjoining local communities, who have had a fractured recent history. Indeed, the site is contested ground between the parties.

The masterplan proposal is two fold. Firstly, to create a quality public realm that is not only attractive and functional; however, has the potential to be an educational resource. This new public realm is a catalyst for future development, a green framework

The Crumlin Road Gaol has played a pivotal role in the history of Belfast, and the ‘troubles’ and it remains an object loaded with memories. The local communities’ involvement in the debate over the future of the Gaol is crucial.

Giving the local communities an opportunity to engage in the future of the Gaol offers them the opportunity to acknowledge the past and see recent events as part of their cultural history.

Our proposal is that in the future it will become an important heritage asset to the city. The precise role that the Gaol will play remains un-decided.