Planning Our Way Out of Division – Using Planning to Build Shared and Reconciled Communities
The John and Pat Hume Foundation, together with the Peace Summit Partnership and Ulster University, as part of Ulster Talks, hosted a seminar entitled ‘Planning Our Way Out of Division – Using Planning to Build Shared and Reconciled Communities‘, between 10am – 1pm on Thursday 19 June 2025 in Room BD-01-016 at Ulster University Belfast, York Street, Belfast BT15 1ED .
Tim Attwood, from the John and Pat Hume said; “This is an important and timely seminar, especially after last week’s racist attacks, which debated on how spatial planning can help heal divided places and support shared and reconciled communities.
Ivy Goddard from the Ballymena based Inter Ethnic Forum gave a powerful testimonial on the impact of the racist attacks, last week , in Ballymena. He Inter Ethnic Forum Families are dedicated to support families living in fear.
The Peace Summit Partnership met with the Junior Ministers in the Office of First and Depuy First Minister to welcome the commitment to Peace in the PfG and call for long-term investment in peace and reconciliation programmes. Given the racist attacks, there is a need for the NI Ireland Executive to act urgently and decisively to invest in truly shared, safe, and inclusive spaces, where diversity is embraced, and every individual is treated with dignity, equality, and respect within the wider context of human rights, reconciliation, and the law.”
Dympna McGlade, from the Peace Summit Partnership said, “The seminar head from Caroline Wilson and Cllr Diarmaid from Islington Council, on how policies and planning frameworks can shift division toward connection. Islington Council is seeking a more equal Islington – a place and an economy where wealth is fairly shared; residents and businesses have a genuine stake in their local community and are able to thrive; an economy which is sustainable, just and locally-rooted; and prosperity for all. Their approach is ‘furthest first’ – to focus on those communities facing most barriers and least served by our economy.”
Speakers included:
- Ivy Goddard, Project Leader of the Ballymena Inter Ethnic Forum
- Cllr Diarmaid Ward – Deputy Leader, Islington Borough Council, who will share how their Community Wealth Building model is embedded in their Local Plan
- Caroline Wilson – Director of Inclusive Economy, Islington Borough Council
- Ben Freeman from Intercultural Cities Programme at the Council of Europe
- Professor Frank Gaffikin – Urban Planner and Academic, Queen’s University Belfast
- Professor Duncan Morrow – Director of Community Engagement Ulster University.
The event concluded with a panel discussion on planning for peace, shared space, and desegregation.
