Since 1969, Belfast is the main theatre of conflict in Northern Ireland. Security forces have built the ‘peacelines' to keep the populations apart. They are situated between protestant and catholic districts in the inner city, the most contested spaces and the location of violent conflict. Over the years, more security walls have been built to face the continued violence between the communities. In 2002, a series of new peace walls have been built between catholic and protestant estates after protracted disturbances. The analysis of the local press and interviews conducted with the security forces and the government were the data collected to understand this process. The peacelines are located on public housing estates properties. Urban planners were confronted to the task to deal with the peacelines. The regeneration of the city implies the transformation of the security artefacts into a less sharp form but division remains. However, since 1994 the peace process enables new development on the interfaces, new name for the boundaries between catholic and protestant communities. Interviews with urban policy makers were conducted to understand the contradictory dynamics shaping the city.
