Cash boost for derelictbuildings

Carrickfergus Borough Council is to receive £100,000 of funding to address decay and dereliction.
Buildings such as Kelly's Coal Office could benefit from the funding. INCT 25-423-RMBuildings such as Kelly's Coal Office could benefit from the funding. INCT 25-423-RM
Buildings such as Kelly's Coal Office could benefit from the funding. INCT 25-423-RM

The cash boost forms part of a £1.5 million province-wide package from the Department of the Environment.

The local authority made a bid for the funding earlier this year with the aim of tackling derelict properties and boosting tourism and trade in the town.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A total of 14 sites were identified along key routes to the town centre that would benefit from intervention works. The sites were selected due to their visual prominence, the detrimental impact they may have on Carrickfergus Castle as well as the value that the proposed intervention works would add to the existing street-scape.

The additional money was confirmed by the Finance Minister in the Assembly two weeks ago as part of the June monitoring round.

“I welcome the funding we have been awarded to regenerate our town centre; this has always been the plan given that we recently invested £2.5 million into the public realm works,” said Mayor of Carrick Alderman Billy Ashe.

Environment Minister Alex Attwood added: “This is a project of increasing significance; already £2 million has been spent in nine council areas including Belfast.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Tourists will be put off by eyesores; if we deal with dereliction, vacant properties and abandoned building sites, we create the opportunity to attract local investment and tourists. So for the councils who will receive allocation, I urge them to press on and I will continue to bid for in year monies to take forward this scheme.”