Carrickfergus Regeneration Project: urban beach and town lighting strategy among revised plans
An urban beach at the harbour car park and a town lighting strategy are among revised proposals revealed as part of the £42.2m Carrickfergus City Deal Regeneration Project.
The most recent consultation was held at Carrickfergus Museum and Civic Centre on Thursday, April 23, hosted by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
It follows a previous community engagement event at the same venue in September 2025.
Since then, the project team have been refining proposals around design, accessibility and public spaces, while ensuring the town’s historic character remains central to the plans.
The latest event expanded on proposals for a new visitors’ centre, based at the former Danske Bank premises in High Street.
The ground floor would have visitor orientation, public WCs and a Changing Places facility, a retail offering with grab and go food and beverages, and the opportunity for showcasing local artists.
On the first floor, proposals include a world class audio-visual experience alongside tailor-made exhibition spaces, a lifelong learning centre, and a sensory space, while the second floor would have events and gallery space, bookable community spaces, and offices.
More detailed plans were also shared for the seafront car park area, including a public park and an urban beach, aiming to create a place to "walk, relax, and enjoy the harbour”, according to the plans.
A “sculptural gateway” is planned to mark where Irish Gate once stood, telling the story of Carrick's historic town walls.
Designs for the town wall walk, North Gate pocket park and North East Bastion, displayed at the previous event last September, remain part of the designs.
Also remaining are enhancements to the castle’s offering and proposals to transform the Civic Centre into an arts and cultural venue.
A town lighting strategy, meanwhile, aims to highlight historic buildings and streets, while making the town feel safer and more welcoming after dark.
The proposals can be viewed in full at https://carrickfergusregeneration.com/news/april-2026-latest-designs-update/
Martin Hare, Managing Director at McAdam Design, the lead consultant on the project, said: “We have been carefully reviewing the feedback received and using it to further develop the designs. This stage [allowed] us to present clearer detail and explain how the project will function day-to-day for residents and visitors.”