There was a time-lag between Ireland and Britain which meant that Ulster was building its first garden village in the late 1940s, completed in 1949. The Irish suspicion of imported ideas led to the adaptation of English suburban principles to the regional context. The appearance of Merville owes as much to French as English influence. The layout of over 400 houses, flats and local services successfully mixes housing types and tenure next to major employment locations, and possesses a well-maintained public realm dominated and enclosed by surrounding woodland. These factors provide a quality of environment which has attracted and retained long-term residents, contributing to a strong community spirit and pride of place.
Locals repeatedly hold it up as an example of sustainable design principles for new developments.
Off the Shore Road near the end of the M5 from Belfast. London Leicester Square Leicester Square, regenerated through its closure to traffic, has regained the status of a good place to see and be seen in. Outdoor tables and chairs in traffic free streets, a central green oasis, street entertainment, continuous active frontages of clubs, restaurants, hotels and bars around London s thriving cinema centre. A destination, a place to linger, sit or pass through. These positive features were absent prior to a comprehensive design initiative.