£437,000 funding boost for Ballyclare town centre: Morrow

The Social Development Minister Maurice Morrow, MLA today announced funding of £437,000 to update Ballyclare town centre.

The scheme will focus on Lower Main Street and around its junctions with the Ballynure Road and Mill Road. The improvements include repaving the footpaths in high quality natural stone, installing new street furniture, enhancing street lighting and putting utility cables underground.

The Department for Social Development (DSD) has provided £300,000 which will be supported by an additional £137,000 from Antrim and Newtownabbey Council.

Minister Morrow said: “I welcome this significant investment in Ballyclare which will complement work that has already been completed around the Square and Upper Main Street. Making the town centre more attractive and appealing can only be good news for residents and visitors alike and will not only benefit traders and the local community but will also be more likely to attract new investment.

“Since 2011, my Department and the Council have been working together to deliver the recommendations in the Ballyclare Masterplan. Most recently, a Revitalisation scheme gave local businesses a facelift and boosted their marketing efforts, assisted by the local Chamber of Trade. This further investment of £437,000 will only serve to enhance the Revitalisation works improving the look and feel of the town centre.”

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor, Thomas Hogg welcomed the investment, adding: “Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council is delighted that Ballyclare is to benefit from this environmental improvement scheme which will complement previous works that took place in the town centre. The Council believes that by creating a welcoming and high quality streetscape we can increase footfall to existing businesses and attract new businesses to Ballyclare. We look forward to working in partnership with the Department for Social Development to continue to improve the trading environment in our town centres”.

Notes to editors: 

The Regeneration Strategy for Newtownabbey (incorporating Masterplans for both Ballyclare and Glengormley) was commissioned by the Department for Social Development and Newtownabbey Borough Council and launched in March 2011 and is available on the DSD website. 

2. The total cost of the scheme is estimated at £437,000 with DSD contributing £300,000 and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council contributing £137,000.

3. The work involved will focus on Lower Main Street and its junctions with the Ballynure Road and Mill Road, and includes the re-paving of footpaths and kerbs in natural stone materials, and the undergrounding of unsightly utility cables.

4. For media enquiries please contact the DSD Press Office team on 028 9082 9476 or email press.office@dsdni.gov.uk. For out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.

Share this page