6. Assessment of impacts
Belfast City Council recognises that Belfast Stories had the potential to impact differently on people and groups associated with the nine Section 75 equality categories. Barriers that particular groups face to activity that is similar in nature to Belfast Stories include emotional barriers (such as anxiety or discomfort); interest barriers (not relevant, don’t know what’s available); practical barriers (cost, transport); and societal barriers (racism, ableism).
The Belfast Stories Equality Framework established broad parameters to help ensure that barriers are removed and that equality, diversity and inclusion remain at the heart of the project’s development. This included recommending regular screening, consultation and engagement and co-design and inclusive design processes.
Accordingly, the first EQIA and public consultation took place in 2022. There was extensive engagement, reaching over 4,000 people and gathering feedback across a broad range of equality groups. Indeed, it found exceptionally high levels of support including across all Section 75 equality categories. Many consultees also reflected on the potential positive impact on equality of opportunity and good relations.
Nevertheless, there were concerns that Belfast Stories could present a partisan, binary or narrow perspective of Belfast that would exclude the stories or identities of particular groups. Consultees, often those with lived experience of missing out or being less heard, simultaneously provided insight and offered tactics to support equality of opportunity, particularly for older people, younger people, people from minoritized ethnic communities, disabled people and carers, and promote good relations, particularly in relation to minoritized ethnic communities and the Irish language.
The final RIBA 1 EQIA decision report recommended that the council should “continue to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in the development of Belfast Stories, ensuring that early potential for positive impact can be realised”.
Findings from the first consultation helped to develop the initial concept in to a design brief. Architects and designers appointed through the design brief have now produced architectural and curatorial concepts which respond directly to feedback. This includes a building with public space at its heart that is welcoming and accessible to all; a simplified narrative structure that organises stories by what unites them – the times and spaces where they took place – not by what divides them; and an open approach to story gathering, allowing storytellers a choice of medium to suit their tastes, comfort and access requirements.
These concepts are now being presented and tested during the second public consultation, which will help shape more detailed plans before planning permission is sought.
Current consultation documents recognise the quality and value of previous consultation responses in shaping Belfast Stories so far. Building on this strong foundation, the current consultation programme identifies groups who are less likely to access, experience or feel represented in Belfast Stories and sets down a range of tactics to uncover further evidence and mitigate potential differential impact.
Central to this is the experts by experience consultation forum, which will bring together representatives from key equality groups, helping make Belfast Stories accessible, welcoming and representative.
The final RIBA 1 EQIA decision report further recognised the potential for Belfast Stories to promote good relations by affording respect and recognition to native minority language in keeping with local and international policy and best practice. It recommended that Belfast City Council should continue to consult closely with Irish language and Ulster Scots stakeholders and any resulting language policy or practice should be subject to equality screening.
It is likely that the nature and extent of any language policy or practice will be a further “natural outworking” of the draft Irish Language Policy, which is currently also being consulted on. Findings in response to both the Belfast Stories draft EQIA and draft Irish Language Strategy EQIA should further illuminate the nature and extent of any differential impacts.
At the end of this public consultation, Belfast City Council will collate and analyse all feedback, which will be used to produce a final EQIA decision report and further shape the development of Belfast Stories. This consultation welcomes further evidence of any impacts on Section 75 groups.
