Larne boosted by £2.2million public realm investment

Communities Minister Paul Givan MLA was in Larne today to celebrate the completion of a significant public realm scheme in the town.

The £2.2million scheme was funded by the Department for Communities and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, and has seen a number of improvements to the streetscape across the town to include new paving, the installation of new street lighting, furniture, railings and planting together with better drainage.

Viewing the works at Broadway today, Minister said: “Larne is in a unique position as part of the Causeway Coastal Route and this scheme provides great potential to develop tourism and increase visitor numbers to the town and surrounding area. 

“Larne now has a more attractive and pedestrian-friendly environment which should encourage more people to visit and stay longer and which will hopefully result in both increased business and employment opportunities in the town’s retail and services sectors.”

The Minister congratulated Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for its successful delivery of the scheme and also paid thanks to AECOM, the design and project management team and Earney Contracts who were appointed to carry out the construction works.

Concluding his visit, the Minster said: “The work involved in delivering major public realm schemes in busy town centres is extremely challenging for everyone concerned. For it to be successful it requires a partnership approach as any one stakeholder cannot succeed on its own.  In Larne the partnership and synergy between statutory bodies, businesses and the wider community has successfully delivered a scheme which we can all be proud of.”

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Councillor Audrey Wales MBE said: “I am very pleased to be able to mark the completion of the Larne Town Centre Public Realm Scheme.

“I know that it will contribute positively to the many fresh opportunities to grow this part of Mid and East Antrim Borough, especially so as we move ahead with the development of our Community Plan and Economic Development and Tourism Strategies.

“In practical terms the financial support provided by the Department for Communities to enable this important regeneration improvement project to be delivered has been very much appreciated.

“It is hoped that our combined investment in the public realm will continue to help unlock further private sector activity in Larne town centre, such as one entrepreneur who has already almost finished a project to develop a vacant site, providing a new commercial space in the town centre. 

“That’s exactly the kind of things we are hoping to encourage.”

Notes to editors: 

1. The project received financial support totalling £2.19m with £1.99million funded from the Department for Communities and  £0.2million from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
2. Work was carried out at Upper Main Street, Main Street, Broadway, High Street, Quay Street, Agnew Street and Upper Cross Street
3. The improvement work included: 

   Demolitions and Earthworks;
   Pavements of high quality natural stone paving;
   Surface Water Drainage;
   Street Lighting Installations;
   Street Furniture and Railings;
   Planting and Seating

4. The public realm development was a key action identified in the Larne Town Centre Masterplan
5. Work commenced in September 2015 and was completed on target in early September 2016
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7. For media enquiries please contact the DfC Press Office team on 028 90 82 9454 or email Press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk. For out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.

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