Maze Long Kesh, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

22 Dec

with Strategic Investment Board, Turleys And Colliers International

Aerial view of the Maze Long Kesh site surrounded by green fields, roads, and scattered buildings in a rural area. Patches of concrete and water are visible. — Maze Long Kesh site oblique aerial

This 400-acre scenic site, adjacent to the main Belfast–Dublin motorway, incorporates the former Maze Prison - one of the most sensitive sites in Europe. Kerri Farnsworth was sought out to lead the redevelopment of the site and unleash its undoubtedly huge but latent economic potential, yet find uses which could overcome historic perceptual challenges.

The Maze Long Kesh (MLK) site has had a long and varied history: originally fertile agricultural land, it was sequestered by the Ministry of Defence during WWII as an airfield; it then became the wartime HQ for the US Airforce, a military encampment and depot, an aircraft test site, a flying & gliding school and a meteorological station, before its more contentious recent history from the 1960s as a site of military internment and the infamous Maze Prison. Some of the historic artefacts remaining onsite are now

Many of those historical uses onsite left a legacy of Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) and Listed Buildings, but also extensive contamination and challenges with infrastructure and ground conditions. However it had a wealth of untapped potential, given its strategic location close to Belfast, adjacent to the M1 motorway to Dublin, and its lush green rural environs.

A paved walkway lined with black lampposts runs alongside a pond and green grass, leading towards a modern building in the background. People are walking along the path on a sunny day. — Maze Long Kesh green infrastructure

Key achievements included:-

a phased 25-year £450m Spatial Framework & Delivery Plan, based on the principle of upfront public sector investment to drive & capture land value uplift
securing the first onsite investor-occupier, the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS), for their 65-acre Balmoral Park HQ, exhibition centre and showgrounds, with plans to develop an international centre of excellence for agri-tech
plans for £30m for a new ‘international centre for conflict transformation’, designed by Daniel Libeskind and McAdam Architects
completion of £8m site remediation scheme and £2m Listed Buildings/SAM renovations
interim site Activation Plan, including major public events; design of new sports & leisure and public art trails; and supporting the transition of the Ulster Aviation Society to full accredited Museum status
establishment of a new UDC (Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation)