Saving The Titanic

This paper relates to a practice-based pilot study assessing the Titanic Quarter, a neoliberal urban regeneration project in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This paper outlines the first phase in a systematic investigation into the initial formative phases of this development over a five year time frame. The overarching investigation considers the neoliberal theoretical underpinnings to this development and its relationship to planning policy, architectural practice and urban regeneration. This paper hypothesises that Titanic Quarter represents a pragmatic application of neoliberal regeneration policy whereby a focus on the iconography associated with the Titanic ship has served to obscure the realist of the associated regeneration challenge. This paper focuses on establishing the research premise and geographical context through observations of related actors and fieldwork documentation. The paper outlines observations of actors from community and industry, situated within a variety of discursive forums concerning the development. The paper also documents a range of material artefacts and associated spaces related to the Titanic Quarter. The paper concludes by highlighting the significance of the urban regeneration expectations placed upon the development by the public sector and highlights the need for further research.