07/08/2007

Art Deco Building To Be Restored To Former Glory

The former Bank of Ireland building on Larne’s Main Street is to be restored to its former glory, thanks to funding from the Department for Social Development (DSD).

DSD has awarded the project a grant of £256,000 under its pilot Urban Development Grant programme. The programme is aimed at schemes at landmark locations and of historic interest in selected regional towns, which can be restored and redeveloped by the private sector for new uses.

The funding will be used by developers Hebron Properties to help refurbish the art deco building to provide retail units on the ground floor with office suites above for rent. When complete, the project is expected to provide six new full-time and eight part-time jobs, as well as lead to further private sector investment in Larne town centre.

Welcoming the news that work on the project will start soon, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said: "I am pleased to be able to support the transformation of this landmark building and look forward to the commencement of work. Due to its prominent location on Main Street, the restoration has the potential to create a very positive impact on the appearance of the commercial core of the town. This in turn will encourage investment in Larne and further increase the confidence of people living and working in the town.”

Urban Development Grants have previously only been available in parts of Belfast and Londonderry. This pilot scheme extends this programme to five other towns in Northern Ireland – Ballymoney, Dungannon, Larne, Lurgan and Strabane. The project in Larne is the first to receive funding, and it is expected that grants worth around £1million will be allocated during this financial year.

(LC)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

04 July 2005
Government to play part in affordable housing - Woodward
Government should play a part in addressing Northern Ireland’s need for affordable housing, Regional Development Minister Shaun Woodward has said.
22 August 2001
Antrim development scheme aims to attract further business interest
Antrim Towns Development Company has launched a new brochure in a bid to highlight the opportunities available for investment throughout the Borough of Antrim.
11 May 2006
Government urge developers to revitalise old sites
The government is today urging property owners and developers to regenerate vacant, derelict and underused buildings or land to help revive five Northern Ireland towns. Social Development Minister David Hanson, has announced that he is to extend the Urban Development Grant (UDG) on a pilot basis to Ballymoney, Dungannon, Larne, Lurgan and Strabane.
13 September 2013
£450k Public Realm Project For Banbridge
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has visited Banbridge to view the completion of the public realm works in Rathfriland Street. The Rathfriland Street Public Realm scheme is aimed to enhance a busy commercial area which links to the refurbished Solitude Park.
10 October 2005
Local towns awarded £1m to attract investment
Close to £1 million has been awarded to 17 towns across Northern Ireland to help them attract shoppers and investors. The Department for Social Development (DSD) supported project, which totals £862,000, will hope to benefit projects ranging from events and advertising campaigns to schemes to improve the attractiveness of town centres.