Latest In Belfast Revamp Scheme Complete

Belfast City Council has completed the most recent phase of its 'Renewing The Routes' scheme, following work on shop fronts along the Newtownards Road from Bridge End to Witham Street, and on the Ormeau Road from the Embankment to the Ravenhill Road roundabout.

The programme is part of the Council’s £150m Investment Programme focused on supporting local businesses and addressing environmental degradation on Belfast’s main arterial routes.

69 businesses were renovated during the latest phase, which consisted of work such as painting, new signage or lighting.

Karl Bennett, Chair of the Newtownards Road and Inner East Traders Association, said: "The recent 'Renewing The Routes' scheme has been an absolutely vital part in trying to make the Newtownards Roads, Albertbridge Road and Templemore Avenue an attraction, not just to customers but to other businesses that are looking to open for the first time, relocate or open another branch. The newly-lit signs are alive with colour, giving the road and traders a degree of confidence. Belfast City Council’s programme is the first important step of what is a long term plan—a plan that we hope will see the road return close to its buoyancy of not so distant years gone by."

So far, the 'Renewing The Routes' programme has seen the Council invest £6.6m in a series of regeneration projects on 13 main roads across Belfast.

The various projects have included the renovation of more than 500 shop units and almost 100 arts, heritage and environmental projects.

Councillor Deirdre Hargey, Chair of the council’s Development Committee, said: "The programme was set up to address environmental degradation on Belfast’s main roads and bolster economic and physical regeneration.

"As part of our Investment Programme, we vowed to work with partners and communities to do what we could to boost businesses and improve the appearance of local areas. ‘Renewing The Routes’ is a great example of how this works in practice - it takes a bottom up and hands on, localised approach to regeneration and works directly with local communities, businesses and statutory agencies in developing innovative and flexible working partnerships."

(IT/CD)