A bid to develop the seaside town of Bangor has been launched as a strategic guide that aims for the promotion, implementation and timing of a large urban regeneration initiative in the town centre over the next 15 years.

The Stormont Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has launched the final masterplan for Bangor Town centre, saying: "Bangor has many qualities such as its strong maritime history, rich Christian heritage and built environment. The masterplan shows how the town centre can build on these assets to create an exciting and dynamic place where the waterfront and town meet.

"By creating a rich mix of uses and activities the Masterplan shows how it is possible to create a diverse town centre that people will want to visit and where business want to locate and grow.

"Re-establishing Bangor as a vibrant and high quality thriving tourist destination can be achieved through the implementation of the regeneration proposals identified in the masterplan," he said.

The masterplan sets out the vision and plan for Bangor town centre and the masterplan proposals include creating a world class waterfront by capitalising on the marina and developing a 'necklace of activities' around the promenade.

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Builders will also benefit from the long-awaited development of the Queen's Parade site for high quality retail, offices and homes that will act as the catalyst for regeneration throughout the town centre.

The scheme will also see the development of a new hotel and theatre at the waterfront adjacent to a major new plaza for major events and markets that can be used for parking when no events are planned.

It will also see the creation of a tree lined avenue along the length of Abbey Street with new gateway features at the entrance to the town and at the various roundabouts town and the redevelopment of Pickie Fun Park.

New environmental improvements along the length Main Street, High Street and Hamilton Street with new unique lighting to signal a bright and vibrant town centre and making the town centre both more cycle and pedestrian friendly and carrying out junction improvements to Main Street and Hamilton Road to reduce congestion.

Minister McCaulsand continued: "In the current challenging economic times, now is the right time to set out how Bangor plans to grow and prosper for coming generations.

"The masterplan proposals published today provide a realistic vision of how the town can make the best use of its unique features and secure its ongoing success and prosperity. This is good news for Bangor and I want thank all the people that played a part in helping to develop this document."

Mayor of North Down Council, Councillor James McKerrow said: "The Council is delighted to see the launch of the Bangor Town Centre Masterplan. I would like to thank the members of the Masterplan Advisory Group for their hard work in preparing this document, which provides a vision for regeneration for the next 20 years.

"Many local people contributed their thoughts during the consultation process and as a result we have a document that represents our widest aspirations for the town.

"These are challenging economic times, however the Council is committed to town centre regeneration.

"We are spending £1.6million on the redevelopment of Pickie Family Fun Park at Bangor Marina - work will start in September - which I am confident will act as a catalyst to attract further new investment.

"We look forward to working with all our public and private sector partners to see the Masterplan being implemented in the months and years ahead," the Mayor said.

(GK/BMcC)