ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the experience of the Stewartstown Road Regeneration Project in softening the barriers that divide the two communities in Northern Ireland. The walls and barriers that separate the two communities blight their surroundings and are the focus for sectarian conflict but also provide reassurance for many. This project sought to change a small section of security fence to that of a less militaristic and divisive character to improve the accessibility of a community hub that spans the sectarian divide. The chapter concludes that the downgrading of this fence has helped achieve beneficial outcomes; however, if the barriers are to be downgraded more broadly, community values will need to change and this remains some way off for most.
