£5.7m Regeneration Funding Announced

£5.7m in National Lottery Funding is to go towards two projects to regenerate the former Harland and Wolff Headquarters Building and Drawing Offices in Belfast and the Northern Counties Club building in L'Derry.

The investment is part of a UK-wide funding package worth £12m to regenerate five historic buildings back to commercial use.

The Lottery investment aims to help fund vital repairs and conservation works to the historic buildings and convert them into usable spaces for new businesses.

Commenting on the announcement, Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) Chief Executive Carole Souter said: "Through Heritage Enterprise we have inspired creative new partnerships between social and private enterprise to rescue and return to use some of our most neglected historic buildings. Not only are we safeguarding these wonderful heritage assets, through this investment the local economy will also receive a boost and much-needed new jobs will be created.

"This multi-million pound investment in Northern Ireland’s heritage will enable two iconic local buildings to be brought back to life and have their potential as tourist assets and catalysts for wider regeneration achieved, and we are delighted to be involved."

Nicky Dunn, Chair of Titanic Foundation Limited, welcomed the investment: "We are delighted that our application to HLF’s Heritage Enterprise fund has been successful. The former Harland and Wolff Headquarters Building and Drawing Offices are one of the most authentic and tangible links to narrating Belfast and Northern Ireland’s maritime and industrial heritage.

"The Titanic Foundation has worked in partnership with Titanic Quarter Limited to develop a new use for what we regard as a national icon. We are committed to maximising both the heritage and commercial opportunities,

promoting preservation, public access as well as tourism and wider economic benefits."

The Northern Counties building in L'Derry is located on Bishop’s Street within the Conservation Area.

It was originally developed as two buildings before it was re-modelled in 1902.

The club eventually closed and it became used for office accommodation before becoming vacant in 2006.

A £784,000 grant will be used to transform the building into a hospitality-based complex.

The Preservation Trust is currently finalising its options appraisal, including discussions with potential operators.

Managing Director of the Inner City Building Preservation Trust, Helen Quigley, said: "This is an exciting project that will substantially contribute to the renewal of the building and regeneration of the area and is part of our overall investment strategy for projects within the old walled city part of the city centre."

(IT/CD)