£250k For Coleraine Regeneration

£250,000 is to be spent on regenerating Coleraine.

The move was announced by Minister for Social Development Nelson McCausland.

"This £250,000 investment will help revitalise this historic part of Coleraine in the Waterside and Bridge Street areas of the town centre," he said.

"The scheme will improve the appearance of the area, by enhancing shop frontages, dressing derelict sites and making the area more appealing to people who work, live and shop there.

"A revitalisation scheme was one of the priority actions identified in the Coleraine Masterplan, which was published last year. The scheme will be managed by Coleraine Borough Council and will be delivered by the traders and local representatives from the Waterside and Bridge Street areas of the town. These improvements will increase footfall and trade and make the area a more vibrant and attractive place to visit."

The move follows a visit by Minister McCausland to Liverpool and Manchester last week to see a number of Housing led regeneration schemes.

During his trip the Minister visited Eldonian and First Ark Housing Associations, the Beautiful North Partnership in Liverpool and Great Places and Northmoor Housing Associations in Manchester.

The Minister said: "I travelled to Liverpool and Manchester with senior officials from my department and the Housing Executive to look at how Housing Associations in England have engaged with communities to support regeneration within areas which have suffered blight and dereliction.

"At Eldonian's Community Based Housing Association in inner city Liverpool, I was impressed by their 'village' approach to regeneration, which provides lifetime housing options such as family, single and seniors’ accommodation on one site. In the Anfield area I had the opportunity to meet with members of the Beautiful North Partnership to see and hear how public, private and voluntary sectors are working with communities to deliver joined up housing led regeneration solutions in often abandoned areas."

The Mayor of Coleraine, Councillor Sam Cole has welcomed this latest investment.

"On behalf of Council and the Borough this is welcoming news," he said.

"Council has been identifying areas of prioritisation for investment around the Borough and the Coleraine Masterplan identifies this project as a high priority for immediate investment. The overall aim is supporting businesses and residents while aiming to attract higher numbers of visitors.

"This investment will support businesses in Coleraine to promote what they have to offer while providing a welcome boost to the area with additional support and investment from Coleraine Borough Council. We have been working in partnership with the Department of Social Development to identify the areas of much needed investment and on behalf of the Borough I thank the Minister for his support on this project."

(IT/MH)