£75k boost in bid to revive town centres as vacancy concerns persist across Mid and East Antrim

Ballymoney Street, Ballymena

More than 90 town centre businesses across Mid and East Antrim are set to benefit from a £75,500 grant scheme aimed at improving the appearance of their premises.

The ‘Town Centre Revamp Refresh’ grant offers up to 80 per cent of eligible costs, capped at £1,000 per business, councillors were told at a recent meeting of the borough council’s Environment and Economy Committee.

A total of 106 applications were submitted, with 13 deemed ineligible due to factors including being located outside designated town centre areas. A further two applicants withdrew, citing rising costs.

A committee report also confirmed that council staff have recently carried out a vacancy audit across Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena town centres.

The findings reflect ongoing challenges. In Larne, a 2023 audit found that 26 per cent of town centre properties were vacant, up from 22 per cent in 2020. Of these, 12 buildings were identified as either vacant or derelict and unfit for occupancy, with Dunluce Street and Point Street the worst affected.

In Carrickfergus, vacancy stood at 18 per cent in 2023, including 13 derelict commercial units. West Street, North Street and Irish Quarter West were highlighted as areas experiencing “significant dereliction”.

In Ballymena, nine derelict properties were recorded in the town centre, with Wellington Street identified as a particular area of concern.

Against this backdrop, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council earlier this month backed the creation of a local town centre taskforce.

The motion, proposed by Coast Road DUP Councillor Andrew Clarke, called for a coordinated approach to revitalisation.

He said: “We should leave no stone unturned in bringing people together to try to revitalise them.”

He added: “Much of council’s rates come from our local town centres. A taskforce will aim to bring forward a strategic action plan for each town.”

Seconding the proposal, DUP Councillor Gregg McKeen said the taskforce would bring together organisations including Ballymena BID, Larne Business Forum and Carrickfergus Enterprise.

He said: “This is about protecting the future of our town centres. There is unprecedented pressure being faced from online businesses. This taskforce would allow us to take proactive steps to improve and work with businesses to try to stop the decline. It is really about future-proofing our high streets.”

Meanwhile, the council is progressing plans to install a temporary pop-up park in Larne town centre on the derelict site of the former Cellars pub, between Main Street and Point Street.

Last June, councillors were told that almost £154,000 had been secured from the Department for Communities for the project, covering close to 90 per cent of the total cost.

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At a glance

• £75,500 funding allocated to town centre revamp scheme

• Over 90 businesses expected to benefit

• Grants cover up to 80% of costs (max £1,000 per business)

• 106 applications received; 13 rejected, 2 withdrawn

• Larne vacancy rate rose to 26% in 2023

• Carrickfergus vacancy at 18%; Ballymena has nine derelict units

• Council backs new town centre taskforce

• £154,000 secured for Larne pop-up park project