Larne town centre carpark leasing plan cancelled

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has decided against leasing Circular Road West carpark in Larne town centre.
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The carpark has been listed for lease on property websites with rent charged at £15,000 per annum.

It is described as occupying a “prominent position within the town centre”.

The Circular Road West carpark has 130 parking spaces and extends to one acre. It is a ‘pay and display’ facility.

Circular Road West carparkCircular Road West carpark
Circular Road West carpark

The adjacent former Tourist Information Centre, which was owned by Mid and East Antrim Borough, and was sold recently, was on the market for £100,000. A planning application has been lodged with the council for change of use to a non-food retail outlet.

A tender for a drive-through McDonald’s restaurant was successful in the  council’s development brief bidding process for the 1.27 acre lorry carpark, also at Circular Road which was on the market for £350,000.

Mid and East Antrim  council is responsible for carparks in the borough.

At a recent meeting of the council’s Policy and Resources Committee, a decision was taken behind closed doors not to grant a lease of Circular Road West carpark.

Instead, on the proposal of Larne Lough DUP Councillor Gregg McKeen and seconded by Alliance Councillor Danny Donnelly, the committee agreed to approve leasing the land for development.

Commenting on the decision, Cllr Donnelly said: “Circular Road West is a pay and display car park situated beside a large free car park.

“As such it is very under-used. I think it is right that we evaluate such assets to see if they can be developed to contribute to council finances, promote investment and help to reduce the rates bill for the people and businesses in the town.

“This is clearly an area with potential so I’m glad that we are gauging interest from developers. Ideally I would like to see a investment that brings jobs to the town.”

Click here to read: Larne lorry parking site to be put on the open market

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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